Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyaan

Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyaan, which translates to "Campaign for Employment for the Welfare of the Poor," is an initiative launched by the Indian government in June 2020. The program was introduced as a response to the economic challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, with the aim of providing employment opportunities to migrant workers and rural citizens who were adversely affected by the lockdown measures.

The Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyaan focused on providing employment and livelihood opportunities in rural areas across 116 districts in six states of India. These states include Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, and Odisha. The program was implemented in a mission mode to accelerate public works and infrastructure projects in these areas.

Under the initiative, a range of activities and projects were undertaken, including construction of rural housing, water conservation and irrigation projects, rural connectivity through roads and bridges, laying of fiber optic cables, and work related to solid and liquid waste management. The objective was to create employment opportunities for migrant workers returning to their native villages and boost rural infrastructure development.

The government allocated additional funds worth Rs. 50,000 crore (approximately 7 billion USD) for the implementation of the Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyaan. These funds were utilized to execute various projects and provide wages to the workers engaged in the initiative.

The program aimed to address the immediate employment needs of the rural poor and migrant workers, providing them with income opportunities during a time of economic distress. It also sought to create durable infrastructure assets in rural areas, which would have long-term benefits for the local communities.

The Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyaan was an important step taken by the government to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on vulnerable sections of society and stimulate economic activity in rural areas. It aimed to provide immediate relief to those affected by the crisis while also contributing to long-term rural development.