Nagaland: Livelihood generation portal for returned migrant workers launched

Kohima: Following the COVID-19 outbreak, thousands of migrant workers across the country were left unemployed. The state of Nagaland registered 15,019 of such migrant workers who returned back to the state out of a total of around 27,000 returnees.

To address the issue, the department of Industries and commerce launched the portal of the Livelihood generation programme for returned migrant workers due to COVID-19 pandemic. Initiated by the department of industries and commerce and funded by the North Eastern Council (NEC) Shillong, the programme aims to support 100 new enterprises by year end.

The portal was launched by Adviser Industries & Commerce , Labour & Employment , Skill Development & Entrepreneurship Imnatiba at the Secretariat in Kohima on Monday. Towards this programme, the NEC has sanctioned Rs 2.40 crore for implementation.

While the unemployment crisis continues to be unresolved, Imnatiba said that this programme is specifically targeted for migrant workers as it is the Centre’s endeavor to ensure that the talents of these migrant workers–whose labour and skills have been a driving in the rapid growth and development of the cities and its economy–are provided an opportunity to boost development in their states.

“Nagas are very hard-working outside the state and in the metro cities,” he said further adding that these people who have contributed towards the nation building needs to be encouraged.

Assuring that the government is working hard to address this issue, he said that the all sectors are covered under this programme. As it launched with the clear objective of providing special assistance for returned migrant workers, he said that it “not to keep them busy but to seriously focus on the sustainable programmes” where these migrants can generate livelihood and contribute towards their family and the society.

Although the department has been tirelessly working over the past years, he said that following the COVID-19 outbreak, it has been facing “real issues” and have come to realization that it needs to create “alternative arrangements” and address the issues.

“Politically spoilt” and “dependent on central schemes”, he said that to adapt to the new way of life, there is a need to look and examine the existing system and review things that are not headed in the right direction.

He also appealed the returned migrant workers to come forward seriously and make the best use of the opportunity.

Director of Industries and Commerce, Hokishe Assumi informed that to avail the benefit, the returned migrant workers are required to register on the portal at industry.nagaland.gov.in before the deadline on October 7.

The commissioner and secretary of Industries and commerce Kekhrievor Kevichusa also said that with this initial step of launching the programme, it hopes to mitigate the issue of unemployment.

As the department was given a two-week window period to implement the programme, he acknowledged the workforce behind the success of the launch.

Eligibility Criteria:

1.The returnee should be an Indigenous Migrant Worker from Nagaland.

1. The returnee should have registered with the state Covid-19 returnees portal.
2. The Migrant worker Returnee should have reached Nagaland via Special Train, Airway, or Roadway between 22nd May 2020 to 6th Aug 2020.
3. The Migrant Worker Returnee should have release documents/certificate from the assigned Quarantine Centers

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The registered applicants will be screened at various stages and the best 100 will be selected in the final stage to avail the seed money of around Rs 1 Lakh. However, the exact amount to be disbursed is yet to be finalized.

Before the final selection, awareness and reorientation programme will be conducted through online process where a team of resource persons from differnt areas and sectors will sensitize the participants on the potentials, scope and ways to set up enterprises in the state.

Capacity building and skilling will also be provided based on the enterprises identified by the participants. On completion of all capacity building/skilling, the see/margin money or machinery assistance will be provided to the participants to start their own enterprises.

The entire process is expected to go on till the year end. The trainings provided by the department will be conducted free of cost.