Bhubaneswar: In a bid to prevent distressed migration and strengthen rural economy, the Odisha government has decided to extend enhanced state support under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) till 2028–29 financial year.
Officials said on Monday that this extended support will benefit 5.57 lakh families across 30 blocks in 9 districts, ensuring assured employment opportunities within their own villages and significantly reducing the compulsion for workers to migrate outside the state.
With the introduction of this enhanced assistance, eligible rural households will now receive a guaranteed 300 days of wage employment in a year. For the first 100 days, the State Government will provide an additional daily wage of ₹98 over and above the notified MGNREGA wage. For the remaining 200 days, workers will continue to receive the MGNREGA wage along with additional state support.
This comprehensive assistance framework will not only curb distressed migration but also ensure stable livelihood security, strengthen rural incomes and promote equitable development at the grassroots.
This transformative decision reflects the determined commitment and visionary guidance of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and the proactive efforts of Panchayati Raj & Drinking Water Minister Rabi Narayan Naik. Both leaders have consistently prioritised the welfare of rural workers, emphasising timely and effective interventions to uplift rural livelihoods and reinforce the socio-economic stability of villages across Odisha. Minister Naik has laid special emphasis on eliminating distressed migration (‘Dadan’), reiterating that no Odia worker should be compelled to leave their home merely in search of basic livelihood.
The Department continues to prioritise inclusive planning and equitable access to livelihood opportunities, wage employment, drinking water, skill enhancement and rural infrastructure. By ensuring that the benefits of governance effectively reach the last mile, the Department is working tirelessly to strengthen community institutions and promote sustainable rural progress.
This enhanced support under MGNREGA is a major stride towards fulfilling the vision of “Bikashita Odisha for Bikashita Bharata”. By boosting rural employment, reducing poverty, strengthening household incomes and minimising out-migration, the initiative reinforces the state’s commitment to a resilient, prosperous and self-reliant Odisha where development reaches every individual, especially those at the end of the line, an official statement said.
