The lock down imposed has not only caused large scale migration but also economic hardships due to lack of social security and livelihood. COVID-19 has thus not only manifested as a health hazard, but also economic hazard, especially for the immigrants. The above scheme is the government’s latest initiative to address the looming economic/ migration crisis.
Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyan
- It is a rural public works scheme to empower and provide livelihood opportunities to the returnee migrant workers and rural citizens.
- This campaign of 125 days, which will work in mission mode, will involve intensified and focused implementation of 25 different types of works to provide employment to the migrant workers on one hand and create infrastructure in the rural regions of the country on the other hand, with a resource envelope of Rs. 50,000 crore.
- A total of 116 districts with more than 25,000 returnee migrant workers across six States, namely Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Jharkhand and Odisha have been chosen for the campaign which includes 27 aspirational districts. These districts are estimated to cover about 2/3 of such migrant workers.
- The Abhiyaan will be a coordinated effort between 12 different Ministries/Departments, namely, Rural Development, Panchayati Raj, Road Transport & Highways, Mines, Drinking Water & Sanitation, Environment, Railways, Petroleum & Natural Gas, New & Renewable Energy, Border Roads, Telecom and Agriculture.
Source: PIB, The Hindu
