Bhubaneswar: Odisha has issued 2,608 licences for 1.67 lakh (167,380) migrant workers over the last three years under the Inter-State Migrant Workmen (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1979 (ISMW Act), Labour & Employees State Insurance Minister Ganesh Ram Singhkhuntia informed the state assembly on Tuesday.
Replying to a question by BJD leader and Lanjigarh MLA Pradip Kumar Dishari, the Minister said that in 2024, 1,037 licences were issued for 70,142 migrant workers, in 2025, 1,465 licences for 92,176 workers, and in 2026, 106 licences for 5,062 workers.
The Minister added that a high-level Task Force has been constituted under the chairmanship of Deputy Chief Minister, Agriculture and Farmer Empowerment and Energy, Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo, to address the challenges faced by migrant workers in distress. The Task Force aims to prevent distress migration and recommend administrative measures to the concerned departments for effective solutions.
So far, the Task Force has conducted three meetings with various departments and has implemented several measures to enhance livelihood opportunities. The recommendations include strengthening enforcement of labour laws, registering migrant families and worker contractors, and ensuring effective implementation of both Central and State schemes.
Under VB-GRAM G (Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission, Gramin, erstwhile MGNREGS), individual-benefit projects have been undertaken, including construction of livestock shelters, land development, horticulture and tree plantation initiatives, irrigation facilities, and pond/well construction to improve livelihood opportunities.
The Task Force has also emphasised agriculture and farmer/animal resource development support, creating forward linkages for individual assets in agriculture, fisheries, and animal resource sectors using subsidy schemes under VB-GRAM G or other ongoing schemes. Structured measures have also been recommended to ensure sustainable livelihood activities for migrant workers.
Minister Singhkhuntia highlighted that these measures are aimed at protecting Odisha’s workforce, enhancing employment opportunities, and ensuring that workers do not face distress migration in the future.
