Odisha CM Announces Special Package for Migrant Workers, Inaugurates e-Shramik Samadhan

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Government has initiated innovative steps through a State Action Plan not only to prevent distress migration in 11 migration prone districts of the State but also to ensure safety and welfare of Odia migrant workers in other States.

Inauguration of e-Shramik Samadhan, functioning of 24×7 Shramik Sahayata Helpline and a Special Package for migrant workers for strengthening livelihood and asset creation, declared by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today has opened a new chapter in strengthening the workforce in Odisha and reduce distress migration.

The convergence with other departments, especially with Panchayati Raj and DW department has paved way for an action plan to be initiated in 477 GPs of 20 blocks in the districts of Bolangir, Bargarh, Kalahandi and Nuapada.

The State Action Plan for Migrant Workers through its various components namely Shramik Sahayata Toll-free help Line, Migration Support & Resource Centres in four districts, Odisha Migrant Labour Help desk in three States, Seasonal Hostels for children of migrant workers in four migration prone districts and mechanism for immediate rescue of distressed migrant workers have ensured a sense of confidence amongst migrant workers. Besides, Collaboration with Tata Trusts and National Law University have been made which has led to a pilot survey of 30 GPs in three blocks of Bolangir and Nuapada, and it has now extended to additional 70 GPs in four blocks of Bolangir and Nuapada.

The summary announcements of special declaration by Chief Minister are:

• Employment under MGNREGA will be allowed for 200 days in a year in 20 vuinerable blocks in four Districts namely Bargarh, Bolangir, Nuapada and Kalahandi. Rs.286.301- (unskilled workers) as wage under MGREGA will be given
• State Corpus Fund of Rs.500 crores has been created to ensure timely and uninterrupted payrnent under MGNREGA
• All GPs in these 20 Blocks will be covered as intensive GPs under Odisha Livelihoods Mission. Each farnitly in these areas will be brought under SHG fold. Financial assistance from Community Investment Fund (CIF) and Vulnerabilty Reduction Fund (VRF) will be extended to these SHGs. Any person in distress can approach the local BDO for availing assistance from Vulnerability Reduction Fund (VRF)
• All SHG Members will be covered under Insurance. identified SHGs in these 20 Blocks will be declared as Banking correspondent in order to make availability of cash to the distress migrant workers. One eligible youth from every househoid (18 to 35 years) will be covered under Placement Linked Skil Development Programme
• All eligible households will be provided with pucca houses
• A drive will be undertaken for all eligible construction workers for their registration under Odisha Building & Other Construction Workers Welfare Board and will be given marriage assistance, pension, education assIstance and pucca houses alongwith other admissible benefits.
• Deployment of Shramik Mitra (Focal point for migrant workers in the GP) will be done for al! GPs in 20 blocks
• District level MIS and Central data base at State level will be in place to track migrant workers and ensure Iinkage with welfare schemes. Comprehensive
  communication strategy will be prepared for behavior change communication in
  these areas

The initiatives for ensuring livelihood, employment linked skill development and asset creation will go a long way in helping the migrant workers, especially in mitigating distress migration.