Date:18/03/2005 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2005/03/18/stories/2005031800650900.htm

Back `Employment schemes can help check distress migration'

Our Bureau

Hyderabad , March 17

THE Planning Commission Member, Prof Abhijit Sen, said that employment generation schemes are helpful in arresting distress migration of people from rural to urban areas and the proposed National Employment Guarantee Act would also have a similar effect.

In this context, he cited the example of the Maharashtra Employment Guarantee Act (MEGA) that reduced the consequences of drought on migration. MEGA had improved the incomes of the poor and led to the development of infrastructure facilities.

Talking to newspersons after addressing the one-day workshop here, Prof Sen said that though the cost of implementation of the Act was not yet estimated, the rough figures could range from Rs 25,000 crore to Rs 40,000 crore per annum. He hoped that it would be extended to the entire country.

The workshop was jointly organised by the Administrative Staff College of India and the Centre for Economic and Social Studies to explore coverage, wage rates, financing, delivery mechanism and other issues involved in the implementation of Employment Guarantee Act.

Leading economists, policymakers and members of civil society took part in the discussion.