NEW DELHI, July 31:
The Government today said it has taken various steps to check distress migration including giving additional 50 days of unskilled employment under MGNREGA in drought affected areas.
”Seven drought affected states were allowed 150 days of work under MGNREGA during 2016-17,” Minister of State for Rural Development Ram Kripal Yadav told the Rajya Sabha replying to supplementaries during Question Hour.
In the current year, Kerala and Puducherry have already been given this provision, he said, adding that the ministry is also developing rural clusters under Shyama Prasad Mukherji Rurban Mission, with the objective of bridging the rural-urban divide and reducing migration from rural to urban areas.
The minister also informed that a study conducted by the ministry through independent evaluators reported that the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) had resulted in reduction of seasonal migration. Other studies also indicated direct and positive impact of MGNREGA in reduction of distress migration by providing work closer to home and decent working conditions.
He said the gist of such studies has been brought out by the ministry in a publication named ‘MGNREGA Sameeksha’. Further, on the recommendation of Ministry of Rural Development, National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj (NIRD&PR) has commissioned two studies on migration, namely, Impact of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme on Distress Migration: A study of selected states of India and Impact of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act on the Migration of Tribal Folk: A Case Study in Junglemahal districts of West Bengal. (UNI)
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