Lok Sabha Question No. 2014 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-11-28
Subject: Losing of Jobs by Automation
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: CH. MALLA REDDY, RAMDAS CHANDRABHANJI TADAS

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA LOK SABHA

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2014 TO BE ANSWERED ON 28 TH  NOVEMBER, 2016

## LOSING OF JOBS BY AUTOMATION

2014. SHRI CH. MALLA REDDY: SHRI RAMDAS C. TADAS:

Will the Minister of LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has taken note of World Bank report wherein it has  been  said  that  technology/automation  could  fundamentally  disrupt the pattern of traditional economic path in developing countries;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the response of the Government thereto;
- (c) whether the introduction of automation/robot technique poses a threat to about 69 percent jobs in the country;
- (d) if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto; and
- (e) the preventive steps taken/being taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (IC) FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SHRI BANDARU DATTATREYA)

(a) to (e): According to the World Development Report (WDR) 2016  of World Bank based on technological feasibility, 69% of jobs in India are  susceptible to automation.

Employment generation has been one of the most important priorities of the Government.  Employment  generation  is  both  a  cause  and  consequence  of economic growth and is impacted by demographic shifts and technological transformations.

For skilling to provide employment, a new Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship  has  been  established  to  coordinate  the  skill  activities across Ministries. In order to improve the employability of youth, around 20 Ministries run skill development schemes across 70 sectors.

Further, to assess the effect of economic slowdown on employment in India in  selected  labour-intensive  and  export-oriented  sectors  namely  textiles including apparels, metals, gems  &  jewellery, automobiles, transport, IT/BPO, leather and handloom/power loom, Labour Bureau under Ministry of Labour  &  Employment  is  also  conducting  Quick  Quarterly  Surveys  on employment  and  unemployment  in  selected  labour  intensive  and  export oriented  sectors.    Twenty  eight  such  surveys  have  been  conducted  by Labour  Bureau  so  far.  According  to  the  survey  results,  overall  estimated employment  in  these  selected  sectors  has  experienced  a  net  addition  of 38.81 lakh jobs starting from the first survey (October, 2008 to December, 2008) till the 28th Survey (Oct., 2015 to December, 2015).

In addition, Government has taken various steps for generating employment in  the  country  like  encouraging  private  sector  of  economy,  fast  tracking various  projects  involving  substantial  investment  and  increasing  public expenditure  on  schemes  like  Prime  Minister's  Employment  Generation Programme (PMEGP) run by Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises, Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGA),  Pt.  Deen  Dayal  Upadhyaya  Grameen  Kaushalya  Yojana  (DDUGKY) scheme  run by Ministry of Rural Development and Deendayal Antyodaya  Yojana-  National  Urban  Livelihoods  Mission  (DAY-NULM)  run  by Ministry of Housing & Urban Poverty Alleviation.

Government  has  also  decided  to  strategically  promote  labour-intensive manufacturing and expand employment opportunities by promoting tourism and agro-based industries.

A  new  Scheme  'Pradhan  Mantri  Rojgar  Protsahan  Yojana'  has  been announced  in  the  Budget  for  2016-17  with  the  objective  of  promoting employment generation and an allocation of Rs. 1000 crores has been made. The scheme is being implemented by the Ministry of Labour and Employment in 2016-17.

Government  has  also  implemented  the  National  Career  Service  having  a portal  (www.ncs.gov.in)  for  online  registration  and  posting  of  jobs  for  jobseekers and provide other employment related services.

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