Speed Post News Network
New Delhi : Indian Railways has generated more than 6.4 lakh mandays of work under Gareeb Kalyan Rozgar Abhiyan in 6 States viz. Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh.
Piyush Goyal, Minister of Railways and Commerce & Industry, is closely monitoring the generation of work opportunities for the migrant labourers of these states under this scheme. Around 165 Railway infrastructure projects are being executed in these states. Till August 21, 2020, a total of 12,276 workers have been engaged in this Abhiyaan and the payment of Rs 1,410.35 crore has been released to the contractors for the projects being implemented. Railway has appointed nodal officers in each district as well as in the States so that a close coordination is established with the State Government.
Railway has identified number of railway works being executed under this scheme. The works are related to (i) construction and maintenance of approach roads for level crossings, (ii) development & cleaning of silted waterways, trenches and drains along the track, (iii) construction and maintenance of approach road to railway stations (iv) repair and widening of existing railway embankments / cuttings (v) plantation of trees at extreme boundary of railway land and (vi) protection works of existing embankments/ cuttings/bridges, according to a PIB release.
It may be mentioned here that PM Narendra Modi had on June 20, 2020, launched a massive employment -cum- rural public works campaign named Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyaan to empower and provide livelihood opportunities in areas/ villages witnessing large number of returnee migrant workers affected by the COVID-19. The Prime Minister had announced that an amount of Rs 50,000 crore would be spent for building durable rural infrastructure under the Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyaan.
This Abhiyaan of 125 days is being undertaken in mission mode and involves focused implementation of 25 categories of works/ activities in 116 districts each with a large concentration of returnee migrant workers in 6 states of Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Jharkhand, and Odisha.
The Abhiyaan is a convergent effort of 12 different Ministries/Departments, namely; Rural Development, Panchayati Raj, Road Transport & Highways, Mines, Drinking Water & Sanitation, Environment, Railways, Petroleum & Natural Gas, New & Renewable Energy, Border Roads, Telecom and Agriculture, to expedite implementation of 25 public infrastructure works and works relating to augmentation of livelihood opportunities.