Migration reduces in Chhattisgarh

Migration of labourers from Chhattisgarh to the other states in search of job has come down significantly, thanks to the schemes of the Centre and the State government.

The rural employment guarantee scheme of the Centre and the food security programme launched by the Chhattisgarh government have propelled villagers to stay back instead of going to other states in search of a job.

According to data available with the revenue department, about 5,50,000 labourers migrated from the state in 2000-01. The number came down to 1,50,000 and then to 1,00,000 before the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNNREGA) was launched in 2006.

In 2006-07, about 55,000 people migrated from Chhattisgarh while the launch of Chief Minister's food security programme in 2007-08 further curtailed the number. The number of migrants was 34,326 in 2007-08. Under the programme, Chhattisgarh government started supplying a kilogram of rice for Rs 3 to people living below poverty line.

The price has been reduced to Rs 2 now. About 3.6 million people in the state are availing of the benefits.

"The schemes have helped to provide job and food to the labourers," state's agriculture minister Chandrashekhar Sahu told Business Standard.