~ Ananya Ipsita Misra

Seventy-six trainee Assistant Labour Officers (ALOs) on probation, visited the Centre for Youth and Social Development (CYSD) on 27th May 2024, as part of their Induction Training at the Gopabandhu Academy of Administration, Govt. of Odisha. The visit aimed to provide the officers with a comprehensive understanding of CYSD’s grassroots program interventions, activities and impacts. The interactive session began with the screening of a documentary film on CYSD’s 40-year journey. This was followed by a presentation detailing CYSD’s programs jointly by Shri Haris Chandra Singh, Chief Operating Officer and Shri Basant Kumar Nayak, Programme Director. The presentation highlighted the promotion of integrated farming system through practices of natural and agro-ecological farming to combat climate change; the role of the Migration Support Centres, set up in South Odisha, in protecting the rights and entitlements of migrants; and the Demographic Intelligence Unit’s work in analysing Odisha’s demographic trends to assess the State’s population growth by 2036.

Then an interactive Q&A session followed, where ALOs inquired about CYSD’s efforts to address challenges faced by the agricultural labourers, particularly unorganised migrant workers. They were elaborately apprised of the initiatives undertaken to support labourers and migrant workers. In tribal areas like Balipeta village, Koraput District,

 

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 where many agricultural labourers migrate to cities for work, CYSD’s “Aaasa Aame Kaama Maagiba” campaign creates local employment opportunities. This program helps labourers to work on government projects at the Gram Panchayat level like pond & road constructions and pipe laying, thus reducing the need for migration. In many districts of South Odisha, CYSD has observed seasonal migration driven by poverty and social factors. Migrants, often working in the construction sites and agriculture sectors face poor living conditions and lack proper documentation. CYSD’s Migration Support Centre plays a crucial role by registering migrants at the Panchayat level, tracking their movements, providing necessary information and offering counselling.

The ALOs suggested that NGOs like CYSD can help bridge the gap between Block-level Labour Departments and their peripheral communities, as ALOs are sometimes perceived as troublemakers. Furthermore, CYSD can assist in mapping the talents and skills of labourers in each district, which could benefit workers by matching them with suitable jobs based on their skill sets. Finally, the ALOs emphasized the need to raise awareness among labourers about the challenges of migration. By showcasing CYSD’s initiatives and addressing the queries raised by the ALOs, the session aimed to collaborate with the concerned Block-level ALOs to jointly support vulnerable communities and contribute to the sustainable development goals at the local level. Finally, the officers were advised to visit the Library-cum-Resource Centre of CYSD to explore if any referral publications or reports would be helpful in deepening their understanding of the relevant subject.