Combating unemployment - Recent steps by the government

Combating unemployment - Recent steps the government

Question - India has one of the largest working populations in the world. Discuss the steps taken by the government to combat unemployment in recent times.

Many steps have been taken for increasing employment in recent times. The government has encouraged the growth and development of the private sector of the economy as well as fast tracking of various projects that need considerable investment.

• The government has also increased public expenditure on schemes such as :

• PMEGP/Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme under the aegis of the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises

• MGNREGS/Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme

• DDUGKY/ Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana under the Ministry of Rural Development

• National Urban Livelihoods Mission under the Ministry of Housing & Urban Poverty Alleviation

• Government has also taken the decision for strategically promoting job creation in the manufacturing sector and rapid expansion of the same through the Make in India programme

• The government is also increasing employability of persons through promotion of tourism and agro-based industries in the nation

• 12th 5 Year Plan has projected close to 5 crore new jobs to be generated in the non-farming sector and skill certification of an equal number

• Government has also put forth the National Manufacturing Policy to engage in job creation numbering 10 crore work opportunities by 2022

• Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship has been created for improving employability skills and job creation through entrepreneurial ventures

• 20 Ministries are developing skill creation initiatives and schemes across 70 sectors

• Data compiled by the NSDA/National Skill Development Agency indicates 76.37 lakh persons were provided skill development training in the past year through these schemes

• Ministry of Labour and Employment has also contributed in this direction through increase in the number of ITIs/industrial training institutions to 11,964

• These ITIs provide vocational courses certified by the National Council for Vocational Training

• Apprenticeship training scheme has also been revamped

Facts and Stats

• NSSO surveys for the past three years have found that the workforce has increased from 45.91 crore in 2004-2005 to 47.41 crore in 2011-2012.

• Unemployment level has fallen from 1.08 crore to 1.06 crore during this period as well

• 4% is the unemployment rate in 2013 according to an OECD report of 2014

• Unemployment rate was 3.6% in 2012 in India which was lower than 4.4% in 2006.

• Employment in agriculture has fallen despite massive growth in population by 18 million since the year 2006, according to the OECD report

• According to a recent Labour Bureau report, unemployment rate is currently 4.9% as per the Usual Principal Status Approach

• Labour Force Participation Rate is estimated at 49% for the 18-29 year old age group according to the Labour Bureau Report 2014