During the Seventh Plan period 18.2 million families were assisted under this step and other wage employment programmes generated 3.5 million mandays of employment. There are programmes for training of rural youth as well as for the promotion of socio-economic activity among rural women. The Jawahar Rozgar Yojana, seeks to ensure 180 mandays employment to at least one member from families below the poverty line. The need to harmonise development with environment is only too clear in today's world. The Government encourages use of pollution abatement techniques, specially in the critically polluted areas.
Environmental considerations weigh heavily in clearing certain projects.
For this purpose, laws have been framed, fiscal incentives given, agreements signed, educational programmes introduced and information disseminated through publicity. Environmental management is accepted as a major guiding factor for national development. The Ministry of Environment and Forests is responsible for planning, promoting and coordinating the environmental forestry programmes. There are about 30 enactments relating to environment protection. The strategy for restoring the damage to environment includes not only use of science and new technology, but also active involvement of the people.