Glory for Odisha: Deputy CM KV Singh Deo Represents India at South Asia Labor Mobility Conference

By Subhasish Sahu

Bhubaneswar, May 22: The two-day South Asia Labor Mobility Conference, jointly hosted by the Royal Government of Bhutan and the World Bank, concluded in Thimphu on Wednesday, underscoring the need for stronger regional collaboration and safeguarding the rights of migrant workers.

Representing India at the conference was Odisha Deputy Chief Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo, who also heads the state’s Task Force for Migrant Workers. During the event, Singh Deo engaged in discussions with Bhutanese Prime Minister Lyonchhoen Tshering Tobgay, exploring opportunities to deepen cooperation in the areas of migrant welfare and labor mobility.

“Migration is a complex phenomenon that significantly influences livelihoods and drives economic growth. In India alone, close to 100 million workers migrate each year, primarily for short-term employment. Yet, many of them remain excluded from welfare initiatives in their home states,” Singh Deo remarked while addressing the gathering.

Referencing census data, he noted that Odisha — home to 42 million people — has identified 14 migration-prone districts and introduced a series of targeted interventions. These include regulating informal recruitment practices, cracking down on exploitative advance payment systems, promoting skill development, and ensuring inter-state portability of welfare services. Additionally, Odisha has established migrant labor help desks in several states and set up district-level emergency relief funds of ₹15 lakh each. The state’s PAReSHRAM portal currently offers 67 online services, including migrant worker registration.

The conference brought together prominent economists and senior officials from the World Bank, including Anna Bjerde, Managing Director of Operations; Franziska Ohnsorge, Chief Economist for South Asia; and Roberta Gatti, Chief Economist for the Middle East and North Africa. Odisha Labour & ESI Principal Secretary Chitra Arumugam was also part of the Indian delegation.

Delegates from countries such as the Maldives, Sri Lanka, UAE, Canada, Australia, Italy, and the Philippines participated in discussions aimed at advancing migrant welfare frameworks and fostering regional cooperation.

Singh Deo expressed optimism that the conference would pave the way for more inclusive and supportive systems for migrant workers while strengthening ties among participating nations.

Photograph: Odisha Deputy Chief Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo delivering his address at the South Asia Labor Mobility Conference in Bhutan.