High-Level Task Force Reviews Measures to Curb Distress Migration in Odisha

Bhubaneswar: The third meeting of the High-Level Task Force on Distress Migration was held today at Lok Seva Bhavan under the chairmanship of Deputy Chief Minister and Minister of Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment and Energy, Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo. The meeting reviewed ongoing measures and charted out strategies to address distress migration in Odisha.

The Task Force discussed findings from surveys being conducted by The/Nudge Foundation to study the root causes of migration. Based on these insights, the government has decided to scale up livelihood initiatives such as the Odisha PVTG Livelihood Model and Mukhyamantri Janjati Jeevika Mission, along with skill training programmes for migrant workers.

To ensure effective intervention, the government announced 100% coverage of welfare schemes in migration-prone districts and blocks. This includes schemes such as MGNREGS, Subhadra, Input Assistance to Farmers, MKUY, Kamdhenu Yojana, goat rearing, plantation programmes and others. A saturation drive will be launched, and Secretaries and field-level officers will certify full coverage of households under these schemes.

It was noted that input assistance to farmers during both Kharif and Rabi seasons has already helped in reducing migration to some extent. Additional strategies by departments—including irrigation expansion, enhanced canal networks, contract farming, the Model Gram Panchayat initiative, and provision of 200 extra wage days under MGNREGS as state support—were also highlighted as key steps to check migration by improving rural incomes.

The meeting also resolved to form a dedicated committee to strengthen household-level outcomes and curb the influence of labour sardars. This committee will work in coordination with enforcement agencies, police, railway authorities, and district administrations in a mission mode to address distress migration effectively.

Several ministers and senior officials attended the meeting, including Hon’ble Ministers Pravati Parida, Suresh Pujari, Rabi Narayan Naik, Nityananda Gond, Ganesh Ram Singh Khuntia, Sampad Chandra Swain, and Gokulananda Mallick, along with Principal Secretaries, the DG and ADG of Police (Railways), representatives of The/Nudge Foundation, and senior officers from various departments.

The deliberations reaffirmed the state’s commitment to tackle distress migration through a convergence of livelihood, welfare, and enforcement measures, ensuring sustainable development in vulnerable regions.