Migrant labour playing key role in remittances to Bihar

Patna, Nov 5 (UNI) In yet another positive finding, a London-based research organisation today revealed that the whopping remittances from circular migrants in rural Bihar were playing a crucial role in the rural economy of the state.

Revealing the fact at a press meet here, the representatives of the Overseas Development Institute (ODI) said as per the initial findings of their recent study, they came to the conclusion that migrants were very crucial for the rural economy.

The migrants were not only earning their livelihood but managing to make some savings as well, the ODI said.

''The fast changing economic contours of rural Bihar is well reflected by the handsome remittances from seasonal migrants of rural Bihar who go to different destinations in the country and overseas to earn their livelihood,'' the ODI said.

During its day-long meet, the ODI discussed ways to incorporate the concerns of migrant labours into the state policy for their safety and security and better earnings through skill-based trainings.

The meet was the culmination of a three-month study on migration patterns in Bihar.

The meet mainly focussed on two broad themes - developing support packages for accumulative migration and developing models of social protection for the vulnerable group of circulation migrants, including migration that shared characteristics with trafficking and bonded labour.

Addressing the meet, Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi said the state government had acknowledged the facts recently and was committed to working in this regard.

He also appealed to the ODI to help the state government in making a strategy to chalk out a detailed plan on circulation migrants.

He maintained that the state government would host a two-day conference on migrant labour soon and would require the ODI's help to make a strategy on it.

The ODI is simultaneously involved in a study on circular migration to alleviate poverty in India and Vietnam with the support of the United States.

UNI