Nearly 72 per cent of interstate migrant workers surveyed across Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu reported improved living standards after moving to the southern states. However, access to welfare benefits, healthcare and formal employment protections remains a major challenge, according to a new regional survey.

The findings are part of the South India Interstate Migration Survey (SIIMS) 2026, published by the International Institute of Migration and Development (IIMAD) in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

Based on a mixed-methods study of 1,824 migrant workers across 33 districts, the survey examines migration patterns, employment conditions, housing, healthcare, financial security and access to social protection. Data were collected between December 15, 2025, and March 31, 2026. The research covered agriculture, fisheries and daily-wage labour across the three states, alongside hospitality in Kerala, scrap collection in Karnataka and textile and garment work in Tamil Nadu.

The survey found that 71.8 per cent of respondents reported improved living standards after migration, while 56.9 per cent intended to continue working in their destination states. However, the findings also reveal a gap between improved livelihood opportunities and access to basic labour protections.

Employment insecurity and gaps in social protection

The absence of formal employment arrangements emerged as one of the major concerns. Around 86.4 per cent of surveyed workers did not have written employment contracts, while 57.6 per cent received their wages in cash. Only 12.8 per cent reported awareness of their labour rights or available support programmes.

The lack of written contracts can make it difficult for workers to establish employment terms, seek compensation for unpaid wages or pursue grievances. The survey also found that 15.6 per cent of respondents had experienced a workplace accident during the preceding year, while only one per cent had accident insurance.

Access to welfare benefits was similarly limited. Only 19.4 per cent of respondents reported easy access to welfare benefits after migration, while 45.3 per cent faced considerable difficulties. Another 35.3 per cent reported partial access. Healthcare access presented another concern, with 69.2 per cent reporting difficulties obtaining healthcare services.

These findings are supported by a separate study published in Frontiers in Human Dynamics on July 14, 2026. Researchers examined employment precarity and psychosocial well-being among 428 interstate migrant workers in Kerala.

The study, titled Employment Precarity and Psychosocial Well-being among Interstate Migrant Workers in India: The Mediating Role of Social Protection, found a significant association between insecure employment and lower psychosocial well-being. Social protection had a statistically significant indirect effect in this relationship, suggesting that institutional support could partly mitigate the disadvantages associated with precarious employment.

Women migrant workers working in a grass field. Image credit:Pexels

The researchers noted that the relationship between employment insecurity and well-being remained significant even after examining factors such as social exclusion and individual coping mechanisms. However, because the study used a cross-sectional design, the findings establish associations rather than causation.

The financial inclusion findings also reveal a gap between access to banking and broader economic security. Although 88.2 per cent of surveyed workers had access to formal financial services, this did not necessarily translate into access to welfare benefits, insurance or secure employment.

Gender differences further shaped workers’ economic experiences. Women migrant workers earned approximately Rs 3,313 less per month than men, even after researchers accounted for other measured factors. The findings indicate that employment vulnerabilities are not distributed equally across the migrant workforce.

Migration governance requires coordination between states

The survey identified circular migration as an important feature of interstate labour mobility, with 82 per cent of respondents classified as circular migrants. Many workers move repeatedly between their home states and employment destinations, often relying on informal networks of friends and relatives to find work.

This movement creates challenges for welfare systems that remain organised around state-specific administrative structures. Workers may find it difficult to access benefits when their employment, residence and documentation are spread across different locations.

The report recommends stronger coordination between origin and destination states, improved portability of welfare benefits, multilingual assistance and more accessible healthcare services. It also calls for better labour inspections and stronger workplace protections, particularly in sectors where informal employment is widespread.

The findings raise questions about whether existing social protection mechanisms are adequately responding to the mobility of India’s workforce. While migration provides employment opportunities and improves living standards for many workers, the absence of reliable employment safeguards and accessible welfare services leaves significant gaps in their protection.

As southern states continue to depend on interstate labour across construction, agriculture, hospitality, manufacturing and other sectors, ensuring that workers can access their rights and benefits wherever they move will remain an important challenge for migration policy.

Sikkim’s daily milk production has increased by 79% over the past decade, rising from 1.37 lakh litres to 2.45 lakh litres, according to the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying. The state has also recorded an 88% increase in dairy cooperative societies during the same period, reflecting the expansion of its organised dairy network.

Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Rajiv Ranjan Singh highlighted the figures at a programme organised by the Sikkim Milk Union in Gangtok on November 3, 2026. The growth comes against the backdrop of India’s expanding dairy industry. India produced 247.87 million tonnes of milk in 2024–25, retaining its position as the world’s largest milk producer. Its output increased by 3.58% from 239.30 million tonnes in 2023–24, accounting for approximately a quarter of global milk production.

Uttar Pradesh is the country’s largest milk-producing state, contributing 15.66% of national output in 2024–25. Rajasthan followed with 14.82%, while Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Maharashtra accounted for 9.12%, 7.78% and 6.71%, respectively. These five states together contributed approximately 54% of India’s milk production.

India’s dairy industry primarily serves its large domestic market, with milk and milk products consumed across rural and urban households. Uttar Pradesh, besides being the largest producer, is also a major consumption market. Government data for 2023–24 put its monthly per capita milk consumption at 5.69 litres in rural areas and 8 litres in urban areas.

However, production volumes do not automatically translate into organised market supply. Uttar Pradesh’s Dairy Development Department estimates that only around 10% of the state’s marketable milk surplus is processed through the organised sector, compared with a national average of approximately 17%. This points to gaps in processing and marketing infrastructure despite the state’s substantial production.

Expansion of Sikkim’s Dairy Network

In Sikkim, the number of dairy cooperative societies increased from 389 in 2014–15 to 733 in 2025–26. Daily milk supply to consumers also doubled, from 28,000 litres to 56,000 litres.

The programme included several initiatives aimed at improving dairy infrastructure, milk quality and the commercial value of traditional dairy products. The minister inaugurated a microbiology laboratory of the Sikkim Milk Union under the National Programme for Dairy Development (NPDD). The facility is intended to strengthen microbiological testing and quality assessment, supporting food safety in the dairy sector.

A Churpi traceability initiative was also launched to strengthen the identity and marketability of the traditional dairy product. In addition, Fodder Plus products developed by Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) were introduced to improve fodder availability and create additional income opportunities in the livestock sector. Five newly established dairy cooperative societies received registration certificates during the programme.

Siri Cattle Conservation and Dairy Infrastructure

The minister also announced plans to establish a Centre of Excellence for the conservation and development of indigenous Siri cattle. The proposal follows his visit to Mangan, where local cattle were reported to produce an average of approximately three litres of milk per day.

The proposed centre will focus on improving the breed’s genetic potential and milk productivity through advanced breeding technologies, including in-vitro fertilisation (IVF). The minister said the Central Government would sanction funds for the initiative and invited the Sikkim Government to submit a formal proposal. The National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) will also finance and undertake the comprehensive modernisation of the existing dairy processing plant in Mangan district, drawing on the model implemented in Mizoram.

Highlighting the potential of organised dairy development, Singh cited NDDB’s intervention in Varanasi, where milk collection reportedly increased from 14,000 litres per day in 2022 to approximately 2.5 lakh litres. The price received by farmers rose from ₹28–30 to ₹42 per litre. The initiative also created additional income opportunities through the utilisation of cow dung in biogas plants under the GOBARdhan programme. The minister called on NDDB to strengthen its support and deploy additional human resources in Sikkim to help the state achieve self-reliance in milk production and procurement.

Greece’s Parliament has approved legislation prohibiting children under 15 from using social media, with the restriction scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2027. The law requires platforms to verify users’ ages and provides for penalties if companies fail to comply.

The decision adds Greece to a growing international effort to regulate children’s access to social networking platforms, as governments respond to concerns about online safety, excessive screen use and children’s mental health.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis had announced the plan in April. His conservative New Democracy party used its parliamentary majority to pass the bill after a debate that continued from Thursday into Friday. The opposition PASOK party abstained, while other opposition parties voted against it.

How will the Age Restriction Work?

Social media companies will have to introduce age-verification systems to enforce the minimum age. Greece has identified digital tools such as Gov.gr Wallet and Kids Wallet as possible ways to support age checks. The precise implementation and how platforms will meet the requirements remain important questions ahead of the January deadline.

The government has linked the measure to concerns that social media use can interfere with children’s sleep, concentration and personal relationships. However, enforcing the age limit will depend on how platforms identify underage users and prevent them from creating or retaining accounts.

Age verification also raises questions about privacy. Systems that require identity documents or other personal information could expose users to additional data risks. The European Commission has been developing an age-verification system designed to confirm whether someone meets an age threshold without sharing their identity with the platform.

Greece Joins a Wider International Push

Australia became the first country to enforce a nationwide ban on social media for children under 16 in December 2025. Its law requires covered platforms to prevent underage access, with substantial financial penalties for non-compliance.

In Europe, the European Commission proposed the EU KIDS Act in September 2026. The proposal would prevent children under 13 from accessing social media accounts, allow limited, parent-supervised accounts for those aged 13 and 14, and set 15 as the minimum age for independently managed accounts. The proposal still needs approval through the EU legislative process.

These approaches differ in their age thresholds and enforcement mechanisms, reflecting an ongoing debate about how governments should balance children’s protection with access to digital communication and information.