Deputy CM inaugurated Mobile Migrant Resources Centre

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Deputy Chief Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo inaugurated the Mobile Migrant Resource Centre or a mobile van at Krushi Bhavan today.

Odisha’s first Mobile Migrant Resource Centre has been started with the joint collaboration of the Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment Department of the Government of Odisha, supported by Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the International Organization for Migration (IOM), and with the support of the United Nations Migrant Multi-Partner Trust Fund(MMTF). This initiative aims to create a strong awareness in the 5 migrant-prone blocks of Ganjam and Kendrapara.

On the occasion, Deputy Chief Minister and Chairman of the high level Task Force committee that has been formed to help migrant workers. He said that currently, the Odisha government is taking various livelihood development programs and skill development, employment generating initiatives for women, youth, and returning migrants. Our efforts have started to make them self-reliant by providing employment in their own areas. Today’s mobile migrant resource center will help to curb the distressed migration and will make people awareness of it. For this, a toll-free migration resources centre helpline no- 1800-345-7885 has been issued by the government. Migrants can dial this number in any emergency situation or to get information.

This mobile resources center will serve as a reliable and replicable model for the state. It will support potential migrants and help develop a structured framework for helping migrants and frame a sustainable solutions to migration challenges, said Principal Administrative Secretary, Agriculture and Farmers Empowerment Department, Dr. Arabinda Kumar Padhee.

In the inaugural program, Labour Commissioner Indramani Tripathi, Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, Protector of Emigrants, Sunil Shah, Additional Secretary, Agriculture, Subhranshu Mishra, Dr. Sangram Keshari Pattanaik, Joint Director of Agriculture and Nagendra Mallik, Assistant Director of Agriculture from Climate resilience Cell, Amit Chaudhary, Ankita Surabhi, Nabanita, Rutumbhara Priyadarshini from United Nations International Organization for Migration, officials from the Department of Labour and Employees’ State Insurance, FAO, WASAN, SMRC were present.