A nationwide lockdown was declared to prevent the spread of coronavirus infection which affected the livelihood of migrant workers which forced them to return home. Now in order to provide immediate employment to these workers, the Central Government has announced a campaign under the Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyan in which workers will be provided employment in different sectors for 125 days. 25 types of employment-related jobs will be done in the campaign with a investment of 50,000 crore.
Under this campaign, daily wages will be paid according to MNREGA wages and a worker will be paid Rs 202 on a daily basis. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has informed that at the beginning of the scheme, employment will be provided to the people by running a comprehensive campaign for 125 days. At present, 116 districts of 6 states have been selected to make this campaign successful.
During the launch, PM Modi spoke to many people from different parts of the country who returned to their villages and asked them about the difficulties they faced during the lockdown. "The Government of India has decided to launch a massive rural public works scheme ''Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyaan'' to empower and provide livelihood opportunities to the returnee migrant workers and rural citizens," the Prime Minister's office said ahead of the launch.