Lok Sabha Question No. 83 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-14
Subject: Unemployment Rate
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: Santokh Singh Chaudhary

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.83

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 14 th SEPTEMBER, 2020

## UNEMPLOYMENT RATE

## 83.  SHRI SANTOKH SINGH CHAUDHARY:

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

- (a) the unemployment rate in the country;
- (b) the number of persons who have lost their employment in India during the year 2020 both in the formal and informal sector, sector and state wise;
- (c) the number of persons who have lost their employment during the year 2020 in rural and urban areas, area wise; and
- (d) the detail of steps taken by the Government to provide employment to people of the country?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (IC) FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SHRI SANTOSH KUMAR GANGWAR)

(a to c): Annual Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) on employment and unemployment  are  conducted  by  National  Statistical Office (NSO), Ministry of Statistics  and  Programme  Implementation.  The  information  to  the  extent  available based  on  the  last  such  survey  conducted  during  2018-19  where  the  estimated unemployment rate and on usual status (principal status + subsidiary status) basis in the country was 5.8% and it was 5.0% for rural area and 7.7% for urban area.

(d): Government has taken various steps for generating employment in the country like schemes  such  as  Prime  Minister's  Employment  Generation  Programme  (PMEGP), Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), Pt. Deen Dayal  Upadhyaya  Grameen  Kaushalya  Yojana  (DDU-GKY)  and  Deen  dayal  Antodaya

Yojana-National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM).

In order to mitigate the challenges in the labour market due to Covid-19 and the consequent  lockdown  of  the  economy,  online  job  fairs  are  being  organized  through National Career Service (NCS) portal, Ministry of Labour and Employment to bridge the gap between job aspirants and employers where the complete cycle from job posting to selection of candidate can be completed on the portal. A Special link for Work from Home Jobs and Online Trainings has been created on NCS portal Home Page to give direct access to job-seekers to such jobs. All services on NCS are free.

To boost employment and livelihood opportunities for migrant workers returning to villages, in the wake of Covid-19 outbreak, Government of India has launched Garib Kalyan  Rojgar  Abhiyaan  on  20th  June  2020.  Abhiyaan  focuses  on  developing  rural infrastructure and providing modern facilities like internet in the villages.

Government of India has launched PM- SVA Nidhi Scheme to facilitate collateral free  working  capital  loan  upto  Rs.10,000/-  of  one-year  tenure,  to  approximately,  50 lakh street vendors, to resume their businesses.

Under  AatmaNirbhar  Bharat  Abhiyaan,  The  Government  has  earmarked  an additional  Rs.  40,000  crore  under  MGNREGS.  It  will  help  generate  nearly  300  crore person  days  in  total  addressing  need  for  more  work  including  returning  migrant workers in Monsoon season as well.

To provide relief to the business, additional working capital finance of 20% of the  outstanding  credit  as  on  29th  February  2020,  in  the  form  of  a  Term  Loan  at  a concessional rate of interest is being provided. The units will not have to provide any guarantee or collateral of their own.