Thread by @SandipGhose

Excellent exposition of the "Migrant Labour and the Politics of Life" by Ranabir Samaddar of Mahanirban Calcutta Research Group and Dr @VinayshilG in @iicdelhi Webinar. Dr Samaddar drew heavily from Michel Foucault. #COVID19 #migrantworkers #migrants

2/n #migrantworkers Of course, there was no hiding Ranabir Samaddar's left orientation - but while castigating "neo-liberalism" - he made some very strong points about the 'politics of life' that afflict the problem of #migrants 3/n

3/n #migrantworkers Ranabir Samaddar debunks the debate between life and livelihood. He says - when even 6 months ago we were talking of Universal Basic Income - the nation cannot risk lives on the excuse of livelihood 4/n

4/n #migrantworkers Ranabir Samaddar highlights the surge of (what he calls) "militant philanthropy" - that was apolitical - that came to the surface during the migrant crisis, which deserves to be studied by young anthropologists 5/n

5/n #migrantworkers the role of "Public Health Vigilante" played by Panchayats and slum dwellers (as in Dharavi) in controlling the spread of the epidemic at the bottom of the pyramid has also been a great learning. #migrants 5/5

In discussing the #MigrantCrisis - Ranabir Samaddar acknowledged the 'food security' ensured by the government. Though he gave credit primarily to the state government - the contribution of the central schemes such as #pmgky cannot be denied. @iicdelhi @bkhadria #migrants