(a) whether there is a large scale migration of labourers from rural areas to urban areas due to lack of work in the rural areas;
(b) if so, the details thereof; and
(c) the action taken by the Government to arrest such migration?
(a) whether there is a large scale migration of labourers from rural areas to urban areas due to lack of work in the rural areas;
(b) if so, the details thereof; and
(c) the action taken by the Government to arrest such migration?
MINISTER OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SHRI SIS RAM OLA)
(a) & (b): With the accelerated growth in Indian economy, there has been migration of all categories of persons from various ports of the country for various reasons like search of better employment, education, marriage, business etc. As per the 1991 Census (which is the only data available), 17.3 million persons have changed their place of residence within the country for reasons of employment.
(c): The Government have been implementing several poverty alleviation and employment generation schemes like `Swarn Jayanti Gramin Swa-Rojgar Yojana`, `Pradhanmantri Gram Sadak Yojana`, `Jawahar Gram Samaridhi Yojana`, `Indira Awas Yojana` and Group Insurance Schemes like `Janshree Bima Yojana` for persons in rural areas. Migration for better employment opportunities is one of the features of a growing economy. What is required is to protect and safeguard the interests of the migrant workers. Besides several Acts applicable to these workers, the Government has separately enacted the Inter-State Migrant Workmen (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1979 which amongst other things provides for minimum wages, journey allowance, free medical and other facilities.