Mission Employment Aurangabad

The Covid-19 pandemic presented various socio-economic groups across countries with grave challenges.

Migrant workers in India - mostly comprising daily wage labourers working in manufacturing and construction industries, and those engaged in agriculture, retail and services - are one such group that was adversely affected. As the livelihoods of many of these workers were disrupted, several decided to return to their native towns and villages, leading to a situation where different state administrations had to manage their movements.

State initiatives

Migrant workers returning to Bihar during the Covid-19 outbreak were registered on the state’s disaster management portal, along with details such as their name and mobile number, state of origin, skills, home district and block.

The Bihar State Migrant Labour Accident Grants Scheme Rules, 2008, was amended to include Rs 1,00,0001 as ex-gratia amount for dependants of urorganized sector workers who may succumb to Covid-19. Similarly, their dependants are also eligible for Rs 1,00,000 under the Unorganised Sector Workers and Artisan Social Security Scheme, 2011.

District initiatives

As many as 27,322 migrants returned to Aurangabad District during the Covid-19 pandemic. To ensure livelihood opportunities, the district administration constituted a project team called Mission Employment Aurangabad.

Under this framework, an initial situation analysis was carried out to understand the needs and requirements of the migrants. Subsequently, the district administration took up registration and skill mapping. Following this, output- and outcome-based targets were set to provide employment opportunities according to skill sets. 

Skill Mapping and Job Standardization

The migrants registered themselves under more than fifty job roles, grouped under eleven major categories:

• Automobiles
• Computers & Mobile
• Construction
• Data Entry & IT
• Fabrics & Handicrafts
• Home & Electronics
• Metal & Wood Work
• Migrant Workers
• Personal Services
• Sales & Delivery
• Others

Job Mela

Based on job profiles and initial surveys regarding job demands, the GM District Industries Centre organized a job mela on 11 June 2020, where only local companies and job roles were offered. A total of thirty companies from the district took part, looking for suitable candidates, and offering salary in the range of Rs 6,000–18,000.

Livelihood Projects

The Aurangabad District Administration is also developing five livelihood projects - after conducting a background analysis - with a total investment of Rs 50 lakh - Rs 10 lakh for each project - to provide more employment opportunities and boost the local economy. The task has been assigned to consultants placed by the Ministry of Home Affairs under the Aspirational Districts Programme. Currently, various farmers’ and self-help groups are being interviewed to understand the most preferred livelihood options that can be taken up using local resources. Initial survey results revealed agriculture to be the top category, with more than 70% of Aurangabad’s population engaged in it. Handicrafts and handlooms have been identified as the second most preferable sector, with carpet-making a major craft practised in the district for centuries. Given the prevalence of forest-based activities in the district, the production of eco-friendly goods is another potential income-generating area. Business plans will be developed for the same to ensure that the developed industries can sustain for a long period of time.

Garib Kalyan Rojgar Yojana

Under the Garib Kalyan Rojgar Yojana, the district received a target of providing 25,13,348 employment-generating days. As much as Rs 89.82 crore has been spent to create infrastructure ranging from Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana roads, Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana houses, community sanitary complexes, water conservation and harvesting works, farm ponds, cattle sheds, etc..

Source : Empowering Migrant Workers through Skill Development and Livelihood Generation - NITI Aayog