Khagaria: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday launched Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyaan, a scheme worth Rs 50,000 crore to create employment opportunities for migrant returnees during the corona-induced lockdown.
Launched via video-conferencing, the scheme is aimed at providing job opportunities and boosting the rural infrastructure in which Union minister of Rural Development Narendra Singh Tomar and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar were also present.
States covered:
Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyaan was launched from village Telihar in Bihar's Khagaria district. The scheme will run across 116 districts in six states which include Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Jharkhand and Odisha.
Days enrolled:
Under the newly-launched scheme, 125-day employment will be provided to migrants. The government has selected over 25,000 migrant labourers each in the selected districts across Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Jharkhand and Odisha.
Ministries involved:
The scheme will be co-ordinated by twelve different ministries including rural development, panchayati raj, road transport and highways, mines, drinking water and sanitation, environment, railways, petroleum and natural gas, new and renewable energy, border roads, telecom and agriculture.
Work involved:
It will involve intensified and focused implementation of 25 different types of work to provide employment opportunities to migrant returnees across six different states in an attempt to convert COVID-19 crisis into an opportunity.
READ: PM Modi launches Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyaan
Why was the scheme launched in Bihar?
The decision to launch Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyaan scheme for migrants from Bihar is significant due to the upcoming Assembly elections scheduled later this year. Political experts believe that this mega job scheme can play a crucial role in the October- November Assembly elections.
Amid the pandemic-triggered lockdown, the largest number of migrant workers have returned to Bihar. PM Modi and Bihar CM Nitish Kumar are of the view that the huge influx of the migrants in the state will be benefited through this scheme, which in turn will help the coalition govt in securing their votes.
PM talks Bihar regiment's valour at rural job scheme launch
"Everyone is proud of Bihar Regiment's valour. Each and every Bihari is very proud of it," he said as he launched a employment scheme from which Bihar would be a key beneficiary. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar also joined the event through video conferencing.
