Odisha launches mobile van to curb distress migration
Bhubaneswar, Aug 4 (UNI) In a bid to curb distress migration in Odisha, the state government today inaugurated the Mobile Migrant Resource Centre (mobile van) aimed at raising awareness among potential migrant workers.
Odisha’s first Mobile Migrant Resource Centre (mobile van) has been launched through a joint collaboration between the Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment, Government of Odisha, and supported by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), and the United Nations Migration Multi-Partner Trust Fund
(MMTF).
The initiative is focused on creating strong awareness in five migration-prone blocks across the districts of Ganjam and Kendrapara, official sources said.
A high-level Task Force Committee has been formed under the chairmanship of Deputy Chief Minister K. V. Singh Deo to support migrant workers.
Speaking on the occasion, Singh Deo said that the Odisha government is currently implementing various livelihood enhancement programs, skill development initiatives, and employment-generating schemes aimed at women, youth, and returning migrants.
He emphasised that these efforts are aimed at enabling self-reliance by providing employment opportunities within their own regions.
The Mobile Migrant Resource Centre, Singh Deo added, will play a vital role in curbing distress migration and spreading awareness among the population.
To facilitate support, the government has issued a toll-free helpline number – 1800-345-7885 – for migrant workers to call in case of emergencies or to obtain information.
Officials noted that the mobile resource centre will serve as a reliable and replicable model for the state.
It will support potential migrants, help establish a structured support framework, and contribute toward sustainable solutions to migration-related challenges, the Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment Minister said.
