Odisha Govt Explores Dairy Farming as Solution to Curb Migrant Labour Displacement

Bhubaneswar: In a bid to address the persistent issue of migrant worker displacement, the Odisha government held a high-level meeting at Lok Seva Bhavan today under the chairmanship of Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo. The meeting focused on exploring sustainable livelihood options, with a special emphasis on dairy farming and cattle rearing as a long-term solution for rural employment.

The meeting witnessed a detailed presentation by SBM Advisor LLP, which proposed an innovative model to reduce distress migration through increased milk production and related activities in Odisha. The presentation highlighted how dairy-based livelihoods could offer consistent income and self-reliance, especially for women in rural areas.

Labour and Employees State Insurance Minister Ganesh Ram Singh Khuntia also attended the session, underscoring the government’s seriousness in tackling the complex and region-specific causes behind migration.

Deputy Chief Minister Singh Deo, who also serves as the Chairman of the Task Force on Distress Migration, stressed the need for district-specific strategies, pointing out that the reasons for labour displacement differ across regions. “Strengthening the rural economy through dairy farming can significantly reduce migration pressures. Empowering women with year-round income opportunities is key to building resilient communities,” he noted.

The SBM Advisor LLP representative also urged the government to extend incentives to private players, alongside current government schemes, to build a robust ecosystem for dairy entrepreneurship.

Senior officials from various departments including Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment, Labour & ESI, Fisheries and Animal Resource Development, and Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water attended the meeting. Key attendees included Principal Secretary Dr. Arabinda Kumar Padhee, Chithra Arumugam, Suresh Kumar Vashishth, and Girish SN.

The government plans to further analyze the proposals and operationalize strategies aimed at reducing seasonal migration, while fostering sustainable rural livelihoods across Odisha.