Nitish Kumar bats for migrant workers
Bihar has launched measures to create livelihoods for migrant workers who’ve returned.
Having saved lives by bringing back the migrants, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has now initiated measures to create livelihoods for them. In May alone, Bihar has arranged for more than 1,000 trains to bring back about 16 lakh migrants to Bihar by the end of the month, making it one of the biggest evacuation drives. Having lost jobs in other states, the majority of the migrants are willing to stay back in Bihar at least for a few months.
Aware of the situation, the CM has now told state administration to initiate mapping of the migrants’ skill sets and collaborate with the industry to assess their requirements and find jobs on the ground for the returning workers.
Kumar believes that as the migrant workers from Bihar have made a massive contribution in boosting economies of various states in the country, and with government support, they can turn into valuable assets for their home states too. As the Covid-19 induced lockdown adversely impacted the economic activities across the country, the returning residents need livelihood support in the immediate future, which is why the CM has initiated measures to ensure that the expertise can be put to use in Bihar too.
There are multiple challenges. A senior IAS officer admitted that while Bihar may not have opportunities for all of them, but the strong will of the state leadership will matter the most. “I am convinced that state after completing the skill profiling of the migrants will be able to help them with a sustainable livelihood option,” said the officer. In view of the Chief Minister’s directive, the industries department officials in the districts have started visiting the quarantine centres to prepare a list of people with their skillsets. The state industries department has also issued directions to all the district magistrates to prepare a comprehensive district employment plan.
The plan should carry details about the number of migrant workers in a specific district and the total number of employment opportunities that can possibly be offered to them. The district administration has also been told to provide these migrants immediate earning in MNREGS and Building construction and Road construction activities. With the Chief Minister’s directive, attempts are also being made to fill up this crucial information gap to feed the available worker pool to nearby industrial units after the requisite testing is completed. As the experts believe that reverse migration can be converted into an opportunity to fuel state growth plan, the Kumar Government has already made the first step.
(Courtesy of Mail Today)