Bhubaneswar: The third meeting of the High-Level Task Force on Distress Migration was held in Bhubaneswar on Monday under the chairmanship of Odisha’s Deputy Chief Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo.
The meeting focused on addressing the root causes of distress migration in the state and discussed actionable strategies to provide sustainable livelihoods to vulnerable populations.
Earlier, it was decided to conduct a detailed survey by The Nudge Foundation to identify the key reasons behind distress migration. Based on the data and existing government statistics, the state aims to roll out targeted livelihood initiatives, including the Odisha PVTG Livelihood Model and the Mukhya Mantri Janjati Jeevika Mission, aimed at improving income and reducing outmigration.
Currently, the government is implementing various welfare schemes, including MGNREGS, Subhadra, Input Assistance to Farmers, MKUY, Kamdhenu Yojana, Goat Rearing, and Plantation Programs. The government will ensure 100% coverage of these welfare schemes for every household in migration-prone districts and blocks. To achieve this, a saturation drive will be undertaken, with officers from various line departments and Secretaries certifying complete coverage.
It was found that due to the implementation of input assistance for farmers in both Kharif and Rabi seasons, the rate of migration has decreased to some extent.
This apart, departments including Labour, Panchayati Raj & Drinking Water (PR&DW), Fisheries & Animal Resources Development (FARD), and Agriculture have launched strategies to curb distress migration. These include expanding irrigation support, constructing canals, providing an additional 200 wage days for unskilled workers under the MGNREGS as state support, and implementing programs such as Gramodaya, Model Gram Panchayats, and Contract Farming, to provide income on par with migration.
A committee will be formed to enhance household outcomes and tackle distress migration by cracking down on labour sardars. This committee will coordinate with enforcement officers, police, railway officials, and the district administration in a mission-mode approach.
The meeting was attended by the Deputy Chief Minister and Minister of Women & Child Development, Mission Shakti, and Tourism, Pravati Parida; Minister of Revenue & Disaster Management, Suresh Pujari; Minister of Rural Development and PR&DW, Rabi Narayan Naik; Minister of School & Mass Education, SC&ST Development, and SSEPD, Nityananda Gond; Minister of Forest & Environment, Labour & ESI, Ganesh Ram Singh Khuntia; Minister of Industries, Sampad Chandra Swain; and Minister of FARD and MSME, Gokulananda Mallick.
