Raipur, Sep 7 (IANS) The Chhattisgarh government Tuesday said the number of people migrating out of the state in search of jobs has seen a sharp decline, but the opposition dismissed this as a tall claim.

'Just 40,884 workers migrated from the state in fiscal year 2009-10, which is 10 times lower than the figure of 565,000 in 2000-01 who were annually departing the state to other parts of the country in search of jobs,' a state government release claimed.

The release added that the decline in worker exodus was primarily due to the success of several schemes, including a food scheme covering 3.5 million poor families of the state. Under it they get 35 kg rice per month at the rate of Rs.2 a kg.

But opposition Congress made light of the claims and said the figures lack authenticity.

'In the entire northern region of the state, mainly Surguja, Jashpur, Korea, Raigarh, Janjgir-Champa and Bilaspur, thousands of people are migrating for work at brick kilns in other states to avoid starvation deaths,' Congress state general secretary Ramesh Varlyani told IANS.

'Several of them, mainly young women, return to their villages after being sexually exploited for months and years. The government claims of checking the migrants has lacked authenticity,' he added.