Centre lacks data on Northeast youth migration for the last 3 years: Union Minister G Kishan Reddy

Minister of Development of North Eastern Region G. Kishan Reddy said that the government is dearth of data on migration of youths from Northeastern states for the last three years.Reddy said this in a written reply at Lok Sabha on December 19.

However, he said that as per 2011 census there are 1,52,05,214 migrants in the North East Region(NER) states. Of these, 93.80% (1,42,62,490) are intra-state migrants and only 6.20% (9,44,050) are inter-state migrants. The all-India figure for inter-state migration is 11.90% and 88.10% for intra-state migration. The top three states to which inter-state migration from the NER States occur are West Bengal (39.56%), Delhi (7.66%) and Maharashtra (7.4%), he said.

 Earlier, the Centre had enacted the Inter-State Migrant Workmen (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1979 which provides different safeguards against the exploitation of migrant workers.Reddy further said that the government has taken various initiatives to improve employment opportunities for youth including those in the NER. 

“These include the interlinking of the ‘Udyam’, ‘e-Shram’, National Career Service (NCS), and the Aatmanirbhar Skilled Employee-Employer Mapping (ASEEM). Besides, the NCS portal of the Ministry of Labour & Employment (ML&E) has been integrated with State portals including most States of NER. 25 NCS centres for scheduled castes (SC) and scheduled tribes (ST) have been established, out of which 06 are in NER in addition to the 02 centres for the differently abled,” he said. 

NCS has also partnered with Microsoft and launched ‘DigiSaksham’, a joint digital skills initiative for employability through digital skills. M/o L&E has also launched the ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat Rojgar Yojana’ (ARBY), to boost the economy, increase the employment generation in the post-COVID recovery phase and to incentivize creation of new employment along with social security benefits and restoration of loss of employment during COVID-19 pandemic, he said.

 Reddy said that under the Skill India Mission, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) is implementing the Skill Acquisition and Knowledge Awareness for Livelihood Promotion (SANKALP) under which, various interventions in States, including NER, are being made. Which would include institutional strengthening at state & district level; quality assurance of skill development programmes; and inclusion of marginalised population in skill development programmes. 

MSDE implements the Accelerated Mission for Better Employment & Retention (AMBER) project that aims towards improved employment and retention of candidates post completion of short-term skill development training program. “MSDE has issued the Notification of Common Norms (2015) wherein, 30% or the last tranche of base cost of all skilling schemes is being incentivised for placement. Under the Norms, an additional amount for skilling is provided in Special Areas including NER States. Further, post-placement support @ Rs. 1,500 per month for Special Areas including NER States is also provisioned.

The Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship (IIE), Guwahati, under MSDE imparts 388 training programs such as Entrepreneurship Development Program (EDP), Skill Development Program (SDP), Entrepreneurship and Skill Development Program (ESDP) etc. During financial year 2021-22, 10,116 participants have been imparted training under various programmes,” he said.

For improving the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER), promoting higher education and for encouraging children belonging to economically weaker section of the NE region, the University Grants Commission (UGC), under the Ministry of Education (MoE) has launched the “Ishan Uday” scholarship scheme for NER. The Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) facilitates expansion of educational development in NER by providing opportunities of higher education, training, skill development and other initiatives through its network of 09 Regional Centres (RC) and 535 Learners Support centres (LSCs) in the NER, Reddy said. 

 Reddy also said that the North East Handicrafts and Handlooms Corporation Ltd. (NEHHDC) under Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MDoNER) provides handholding support to the artisans and weavers of the NER by skilling them and creating market linkages to enable them to continue their traditional skills and provide them gainful employment. 

The North Eastern Council (NEC) under MDoNER has launched the "Advancing North East" portal - a one stop solution for career and livelihood for the youth of NER. Reddy in the written reply also said that the Ministry of Home Affairs has taken various steps such as issuance of advisories/instructions to the State Governments/UTs regarding action plan for providing security to people from NER, appointment of nodal officers in States/UTs to address the grievances of people from NER, and sensitization of enforcement agencies to take appropriate action in any case of harassment. 

“A Special Police Unit for North East Region (SPUNER) has been set up by Delhi Police and a special helpline number 1093 and dedicated email, ne.complaints@mha.gov.in for lodging complaint/grievances by people of NER has also been started. A three-member Monitoring Committee has been set up by Ministry of Home Affairs with two members belonging to NER for monitoring of issues and redressal of grievances relating to racial discrimination faced by people from NER residing in different parts of the country,” he said