Tamil Migrants and their Linguistic Rights in Kerala

Abstract

Of all the States evaluated, Kerala has taken more effective measures towards
internal migrants and their needs than other States. According to the 2019
Interstate Migration Policy Index and Index compiled by Indian Migration
(Aggarwal et al., 2019), Kerala is ranked first out of seven for migrant friendly
policies. This article details Tamil minorities in Kerala, including a
significant number of migrants who came here as labourers, plantation
workers and traders. The article is not about Tamil migrants’ common
problems or challenges in different spheres but about the rights they share
in public with the dominant majority, based on their language. Since they
are also included in the category of minority Tamils, and are eligible for all
the language rights granted by the government in accordance with those
granted by national and international instruments, this article argues that
immigrants have rights as a minority according to international legal frame
frameworks. Therefore, in consonance with their international obligations,
States are expected to enact policies that safeguard their rights and thus
promote their integration into the host society