Bhubaneswar, Odisha : The 3rd Meeting of the High-Level Task Force on Distress Migration Odisha was held today at Lokseva Bhavan under the chairmanship of Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister and Minister of Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment, Energy Shri Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo. The meeting reviewed ongoing strategies to curb distress migration in the state and strengthen livelihood support for migration-prone households.
Earlier, it was decided to study the reasons behind distressed migration. A survey conducted by The Nudge Foundation will provide detailed insights, based on which the government plans to implement effective livelihood models such as the Odisha PVTG Livelihood Model and Mukhya Mantri Janjati Jeevika Mission. Training programs will be conducted to enhance the skills of migrant workers, ensuring sustainable employment opportunities in their home districts.
Currently, Odisha has multiple welfare initiatives to support rural households, including MGNREGS, Subhadra scheme, Input Assistance to farmers, Mukhyamantri Krushi Unnayan Yojana (MKUY), Kamdhenu Yojana, goat rearing programs, and plantation drives. The government aims to ensure 100% coverage of these welfare schemes in all migration-prone districts and blocks. A saturation drive will be conducted, and officers and department secretaries will certify the full implementation.
Reports indicate that the implementation of input assistance to farmers in both Kharif and Rabi seasons has already contributed to a reduction in migration rates. Additional strategies by the Labour Department, PR&DW, FARD, and Agriculture Department include irrigation support, canal construction, additional MGNREGS wage days for unskilled workers, initiation of Model Gram Panchayats, and contract farming to provide income levels comparable to migration.
To further strengthen efforts, a special committee will be formed to monitor household outcomes, crack down on illegal labour contractors (labour sardars), and coordinate with police, railway officers, and district administrations in a mission-mode operation.
The meeting was attended by senior ministers and officials including Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister and Minister of Women & Child Development, Mission Shakti, Tourism Smt. Pravati Parida, Revenue & Disaster Management Minister Shri Suresh Pujari, RD, PR&DW Minister Shri Rabi Narayan Naik, SME, SC&ST, SSEPD Minister Shri Nityananda Gond, Forest & Environment, Labour & ESI Minister Shri Ganesh Ram Singh Khuntia, Industry Minister Shri Sampad Chandra Swain, FARD, MSME Minister Shri Gokulananda Mallick, along with principal secretaries of Finance, Agriculture, PR&DW, police officials, railway representatives, and representatives from The Nudge Foundation.
This meeting reinforced Odisha’s commitment to tackling distress migration, promoting sustainable livelihoods, and ensuring welfare coverage reaches every household in migration-prone districts, marking a significant step toward social and economic stability in the state.
Also Read : Odisha Leads in PMKSY 2.0 Watershed Fund Utilization
