Government schemes for migration play a crucial role in shaping the dynamics of population movement within and across borders. These schemes are designed to facilitate migration processes, whether it be for employment, education, family reunification, or humanitarian reasons. Through a combination of policies, regulations, and support services, governments aim to manage migration flows effectively while ensuring the rights and well-being of migrants. From visa programs to integration initiatives, these schemes reflect a nation’s approach to immigration and its commitment to harnessing the benefits of migration for both migrants and the receiving society. In this essay, we will explore various government schemes for migration, their objectives, implementation strategies, and their impacts on individuals and societies.
Affordable Rental Housing Complexes (ARHCs) under the PMAY (Urban)
It was launched under Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan, the Economic Package to ameliorate the hardships faced by the poor in general and migrants in particular.
Key Features of the ARHCs Scheme:
- Under the scheme, ARHCs shall be developed for exclusive use as rental housing for a minimum period of 25 years, using two models:
- Converting existing vacant government funded housing complexes through Concession Agreements.
- Special incentives for private/ public entities to develop ARHCs on their own available vacant land.
- Target beneficiaries:Workforce involved in manufacturing industries, service providers in hospitality, health,domestic/commercial establishments,and construction or other sectors,laborers, long term tourists/ visitors,students etc.
- A Technology Innovation Grant of Rs 600 Crore will be released for projects using identified innovative technologies for construction.
- Intended Benefits of the scheme:
- Economically productive use of Government funded vacant housing stock.
- Conducive environment for Entities to develop AHRCs on their own vacant land.
- New investment opportunities and promotion of entrepreneurship in the rental housing sector.
- Investment under ARHCs is expected to create new job opportunities.
Challenges
- Lack of clear definition for affordable housing: It should be redefined clearly keeping in view the different geographies in India.
- Poor access to organized finance: EWS and LIG categories often finds it difficult to secure formal housing finance due to inability to produce formal pay slips and other relevant documentation to establish creditworthiness.
- Developed in outskirts of cities: Lack of affordable and adequately sized land parcels in inner urban localities has driven the development of Affordable Housing to urban Peripheries.
- Archaic Laws: Landowners find rental housing unattractive as restrictive rent control laws increase the cost of transaction, lower residential yields and put them at high risk of property litigation.
Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyan (GKRA)
Objective
To empower and provide livelihood opportunities in areas/ villages witnessing large number of returnee migrant workers affected by the devastating COVID-19 and similarly affected rural citizens.
Features
- It is a massive employment -cum- rural public works Campaign.
- Public works to be undertaken during this campaign will have a resource envelope of Rs 50,000 crores.
- The campaign involves 125 days of work.
- Coverage
- It covers 116 districts in 6 states – Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan,Jharkhand and Odisha.
- The chosen districts include 27 Aspirational Districts.
- These districts are estimated to cover about 2/3 of such migrant workers.
- Emphasis on rural infrastructure
- It will have 25 different types of public works to create infrastructure and boost livelihood opportunities in rural areas designated in the campaign.
- The public works under the Abhiyaan are
- rural housing for the poor
- provision of drinking water through Jal Jeevan mission
- Panchayat Bhavans
- community toilets
- rural mandis
- rural roads
- other infrastructure like Cattle Sheds, Anganwadi Bhavans etc.
- Multi-Ministerial Effort:Abhiyaan will be a convergent effort between different Ministries/Departments with the Ministry of Rural Development as the nodal Ministry. Other ministries include Panchayati Raj, Road Transport & Highways, Mines etc.
One Nation, One Ration Card
Background
Partha Mukhopadhyay Working Group on Migration in 2017 recommended portability of Public Distribution System benefits. An intra-state access to the Public Distribution System (PDS) under the Integrated Management of Public Distribution System (IMPDS) is already in practice in a few states like Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Haryana etc.
Features
- Under the scheme, the beneficiaries can buy subsidized food grains from a ration shop in any part of the country.
- Ration card Aadhar linkage is must to access the scheme.
- A person will only be eligible for the subsidies supported by the centre such as those under the Nation Food security act, 2013.
- Even if a beneficiary moves to a state where grains are given for free he/she will not be able to access those benefits.
- A migrant will be allowed to buy maximum of 50% of the family quota. This is to ensure that the individual, after shifting to another place does not buy the entire family quota in one go.
- The scheme will:
- benefit migrant workers.
- remove fake ration card holders through an integrated online system.
- control rising food subsidy bill by removing united beneficiaries, preventing leakages etc.
FAQs
1. What are government schemes available for migration assistance?
- One prominent scheme is the “Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana (PMAY)” under which financial assistance is provided to eligible migrants for constructing houses or acquiring a property. Additionally, various states offer their own schemes tailored to the needs of migrant workers.
2. How does the government support the reintegration of returning migrants?
- The “Atmanirbhar Bharat Rozgar Yojana” is a scheme aimed at incentivizing the formalization of jobs in the country, which can benefit returning migrants. Additionally, skill development programs like “Skill India Mission” help in enhancing the employability of migrants upon their return.
3. Are there any schemes to address the welfare of migrant laborers during the COVID-19 pandemic?
- Yes, the “One Nation One Ration Card” scheme ensures that migrant workers can access their ration entitlements from any Fair Price Shop across the country. Moreover, various relief packages and shelters were set up by the government to provide temporary support during the pandemic-induced crisis.
4. How does the government assist in providing healthcare to migrating populations?
- The “Ayushman Bharat” scheme aims to provide health insurance coverage to vulnerable populations, including migrant workers. Mobile health units and telemedicine facilities are also deployed in areas with significant migrant populations to ensure access to healthcare services.
5. Are there any financial assistance schemes for migrant entrepreneurs?
- Yes, under the “MUDRA Yojana,” financial assistance is provided to aspiring entrepreneurs, including migrants, for setting up their own businesses. Additionally, various state-specific schemes offer subsidies, loans, and skill development programs tailored to migrant entrepreneurs’ needs.
In case you still have your doubts, contact us on 9811333901.
For UPSC Prelims Resources, Click here
For Daily Updates and Study Material:
Join our Telegram Channel – Edukemy for IAS
- 1. Learn through Videos – here
- 2. Be Exam Ready by Practicing Daily MCQs – here
- 3. Daily Newsletter – Get all your Current Affairs Covered – here
- 4. Mains Answer Writing Practice – here
