The 125-day Garib Kalyan Rozgar Abhiyan has given employment to about 12,276 workers and generated about 10,66,246 man-days of work as on September 25, 2020. The scheme has benefitted migrant workers across Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand and Rajasthan, who have received employment opportunities in various railway infrastructure projects in these states.
The Railway Ministry has revealed that a sum of about Rs 2,190 crores has been released for these projects. A total amount of Rs 50,000 crores has been set aside for this employment generation programme. The initiative will cover construction and maintenance of approach roads for level crossings; development and cleaning of silted waterways, trenches and drains along the tracks; construction and maintenance of approach roads to railway stations; repair and widening of existing railway embankments; planting of trees at the extreme boundary of railway land and protection works of existing embankments, bridges, etc.
These projects have been initiated as part of the Prime Minister’s employment -cum- rural public works campaign aimed at generating livelihood opportunities to migrant workers who returned to their villages amidst the pandemic.
About 25 categories of works/ activities are being focussed on as part of the employment-generation programme, across 116 districts, where maximum population of returnee migrants exist. Twelve ministries are involved in this mission, including the ministries of rural development, Panchayati Raj, road transport & highways, mines, drinking water and sanitation, environment, railways, petroleum & natural gas, new & renewable energy, border roads, telecom and agriculture.
