The Bengal government has asked all district administrations to prepare a database of migrant workers who have returned or are to return over the next few weeks and also mention their expertise so that they can be given work in welfare projects.

The state government created a basic database of migrant workers from Bengal after more than 6 lakh people registered under a scheme through which a one-time assistance of Rs 1,000 was given to migrant workers.

“It is not that all of them are stuck elsewhere. Many came back before the lockdown was announced. About 2 lakh people are supposed to come back in the next few days. We are planning to involve all migrant labourers under the scheme so that they get an opportunity to earn a livelihood here,” said a senior government official.

In a videoconference with the district magistrates, panchayat and rural development minister Subrata Mukherjee on Wednesday asked them to prepare a detailed database of the migrant workers and provide them job cards under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).

“The migrant labourers would have to apply to the local panchayats with their residential address proof and they would get jobs under the MGNREGA. We are trying to offer them jobs under other schemes too,” Mukherjee said.

Sources said that providing work under the 100-day job scheme was the easiest option and could be done almost immediately as the state government had already laid stress on resuming work under the project.

“Here we can employ all the interested migrant workers as we spend more than Rs 5,000 crore a year on an average under the scheme. So, the scope of jobs would not be limited,” said a source.

The government is in talks with entrepreneurs to provide job opportunities to skilled labourers also.