Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Feb 2: Karnataka has overtaken all other states by being the top provider of guaranteed employment  to  migrant workers who returned to native villages in the year 2020-21. This has found a mention in the economic survey report of the central government. The states had faced a challenge of providing work to lakhs of migrant workers after their mass exodus to their home districts due to the Covid pandemic and consequent lockdown.

Reportedly, Karnataka has outdone other states in terms of providing employment under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee scheme to the migrant workers who were facing a crisis after losing their jobs. By providing employment in excess of previous year, Karnataka has emerged  at the top followed by Tamil Nadu.

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The report has made a mention that in states like West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha and BIhar where migrations were high,  the quantum of utilization of the said rural employment guarantee scheme was considerably less. As per economic survey 2021-22 report, following lockdown and deaths due to corona, the migrant workers had returned to their villages in 2020 and a high demand for employment had been created. At this time, the national rural employment guarantee scheme emerged as a beacon for the daily wagers. 

Karnataka's rural development department had a set target of 13 crore mandays in the year 2020-21 but Karnataka had created 15 crore mandays.