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the open and the rest had very perfunctory accommodation. They faceharassment, abuse, theft, forcible eviction, or the demolition of theirdwellings by urban authorities or police. The sexual exploitation of womenby masons, contractors, the police, and others is routine but unreportedby women for fear of the consequences (loss of employment, violence).Children are even more vulnerable to such abuse.10. The Need for Migrant Support ProgramsWhile a number of laws exist to protect the rights of migrant workers,especially in India 14 these are widely disregarded by employers andintermediaries because of a lack of political will to implement them andignorance among illiterate migrants of their rights as workers. There isa need for widespread awareness creation among the general public,policymakers, and migrants themselves.Although India has one of the most comprehensive systems of pro-poorprograms in the developing world, the millions of poor migrant laborerscannot access these for the entire time that they are away due to proofof-residencerequirements. Thus, the Public Distribution System-suppliedfood grains are inaccessible to them, as are government schools, hospitals,and other pro-poor schemes. There is an urgent need for these to be mademore flexible and different states need to reach agreement on how thisshould be done.The transaction costs involved in sending remittances are a particularconcern for migrants. Rarely do official channels (private or public) exist inthe region of origin; money is usually carried back by migrants themselvesor sent through trusted friends and relatives. Improved channels for internalremittances, e.g., via post offices, could ideally reduce the cost, delays, andrisks of sending money within a country.11. Policy Recommendations and Knowledge Gaps11.1 The FutureIndia is currently going through a transition from an economy that consistedof very large numbers of viable small and marginal farms to one wherethe structure of agriculture and industry is changing rapidly in responseto globalizing forces, environmental limits, and stresses and populationpressure. While new industries and informal sector jobs have emerged inurban areas, creating a considerable pull for poor laborers, a stronger push173