IR charts Rs 18 billion plan to employ returned migrants till October 31, 2020

IR has charted a plan to generate 800,000 man-days of employment for migrant workers in infrastructure projects worth Rs 18 billion. These projects will provide job opportunities to labourers until October 31, 2020. The initiative will be a part of the Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyan that is being implemented in 116 districts in six states – Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha and Jharkhand. The scheme, which was launched on June 20, 2020, aims to provide livelihood opportunities in areas where a large number of migrant workers have returned due to the COVID-19 pandemic. IR has currently identified 160 infrastructure projects that will be expedited under the scheme. Further, it has also identified several works such as construction and maintenance of approach roads for level crossings and roads to railway stations that can be executed through the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme.