Mumbai: The Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyaan (GKRA) has been launched to boost employment and livelihood opportunities for migrant workers returning to villages in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak.
The Abhiyaan is on mission mode to employ migrant workers who have returned to their native villages mainly from 6 states named Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. The Abhiyaan is now empowering villagers with livelihood opportunities in 116 districts of these states.
By the ninth week, a total of about 24 crore man-days employment has been provided and Rs 18,862 crore has been spent so far to achieve the objectives of the Abhiyaan.
A large number of structures have been created so far including 85,786 water conservation, 2,63,846 rural houses, 19,397 cattle sheds, 12,798 farm ponds, and 4,260 community sanitary complexes.
6,342 works have been taken up through District Mineral Funds, 1,002 Gram Panchayats have been provided with internet connectivity, a total of 13,022 jobs related to solid and liquid waste management taken up, and 31,658 candidates have been provided skill training through Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) during the Abhiyaan.
The Abhiyaan's success so far can be seen as convergent efforts of 12 Ministries and State Governments, which are giving higher quantum of benefits to the migrant workers and rural communities. The stage is set for longer-term initiatives for jobs and livelihoods for those who choose to stay back.
