Lok Sabha Question No. 125 (STARRED), answered on 2019-07-01
Subject: Labour Market
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: Pinaki Misra

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *125

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 01 st  JULY, 2019

## LABOUR MARKET

*125.  SHRI PINAKI MISHRA:

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

- (a) whether it is a fact that about 12 million people enter the Labour Market on an annual basis in the country and if so, the details thereof; (b) whether the mismatch between the job seekers and the jobs created is due to the subdued performance of the core sectors like the power and the infrastructure in the country; (c) if so, the details thereof; and the measures which would be taken by the Government to boost the core sectors like the power and the infrastructure to bridge the gap between
- (d) the job seekers and the jobs created?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (d): A statement is laid on the table of the House.

*

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION  NO.  *125  DUE  FOR  REPLY  ON  01-07-2019  BY  SHRI  PINAKI  MISHRA REGARDING ' LABOUR MARKET '.

(a) to (d):  The quinquennial labour force surveys on employment and unemployment were conducted by National Sample Survey Office (NSSO), Ministry of Statistics and Programme  Implementation.  The  last  such  survey  was  conducted  during  2011-12. Now, NSSO has switched to the annual Periodic  Labour Force  Survey  (PLFS)  which was conducted during 2017-18.  The estimated worker population ratio on usual status (principal status+subsidiary status) basis for the persons ages 15 years and above in the country during 2009-10, 2011-12 and 2017-18  is given below:

| Labour Force Participation Rates (in %)   | Labour Force Participation Rates (in %)   | Labour Force Participation Rates (in %)   | Labour Force Participation Rates (in %)   |
|-------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------|
| Year                                      | Male                                      | Female                                    | Person                                    |
| 2017-18*(PLFS)                            | 75.8                                      | 23.3                                      | 49.8                                      |
| 2011-12(NSS 68 th round)                  | 79.8                                      | 31.2                                      | 55.9                                      |
| 2009-10(NSS 66 th round)                  | 80.6                                      | 32.6                                      | 57.1                                      |

(Note: *For comparability, the results of the PLFS with earlier rounds of NSS surveys need to be understood in the context with which the survey methodology and sample selection has been designed)

Employment generation coupled with improving employability is the priority of the  Government. 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  Generati on  Programme  (PMEGP),  Mahatma  Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY) and Deendyal Antodaya Yojana-National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM). Details of the employment generated through these schemes/ programmes are given below:

| Employment Generated                                 | Employment Generated   | Employment Generated   | Employment Generated   | Employment Generated   |
|------------------------------------------------------|------------------------|------------------------|------------------------|------------------------|
| Schemes/Year                                         | 2015-16                | 2016-17                | 2017-18                | 2018-19                |
| Estimated employment generated under PMEGP (in lakh) | 3.23                   | 4.08                   | 3.87                   | 5.87 (till 31-03-2019) |
| Person days Generated under MGNREGS ( in crore)      | 235.14                 | 235.64                 | 233.74                 | 267.9 (till May -2019) |
| Candidates placed under DDU-GKY (in lakh)            | 1.09                   | 1.48                   | 0.76                   | 1.36 (till May-2019)   |
| Placement under DAY-NULM (in lakh)                   | 0.34                   | 1.52                   | 1.15                   | 1.63 (till 18-06-2019) |

The Ministry of Road Transport & Highways entrusted with the responsibility of development  of  Road  Transport and Highways  in general and construction  & maintenance  of  National  Highways  in  particular.    During  2017-18  and  2018-19,  the national  highways constructed under central road sector were 9829 Km. and 10855 Km.  (upto  May,  2019)  respectively.  The  two  projects  of  Peripheral  Expressways  Eastern Peripheral Expressway (EPE) and Western Peripheral Expressway (WPE) were completed this year. This project has generated employment opportunities of about 50 lakh man-days.  Approval has been given for a project for construction of bridge over Ganga in Phaphamau in Allahabad. This will give a boost to pilgrimage tourism and will generate direct employment during construction for about 9.20 lakh mandays.

The  Union  Cabinet  has  approved  measures  to  promote  Hydro  Power  Sector. These  include  Declaring  Large  Hydropower  Projects  (HPO)  as  part  of  non-solar Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO). As most of the hydro power potential is located in  the  higher  reaches  of  Himalayas  and  North-  East  Region,  it  will  result  in  overall socio-economic  development  of  the  region  by  providing  direct  employment  in  the power sector. It will also provide indirect employment/ entrepreneurial opportunities in the field of transportation, tourism and other small scale businesses.

Besides these initiatives, flagship programmes of the Government such as Make in  India,  Digital  India,  Swachh  Bharat  Mission,  Smart  City  Mission,  Atal  Mission  for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation, Housing for All, Infrastructure  development and  Industrial  corridors  have  the  potential  to  generate  productive  employment opportunities. Ministries/ Departments/ States run skill development schemes across various sectors to improve the employability of youth and also facilitate placements. Schemes  such  as  the  National  Apprenticeship  Promotion  Scheme  (NAPS)  wherein Government  reimburses  25  percent  of  the  stipend  payable  to  apprentices  also enhances employability of the youth to access employment.

Pradhan  Mantri  Rojgar  Protsahan  Yojana  (PMRPY)  has  been  launched  by  the Ministry of Labour and Employment  for incentivising employers for promoting employment generation. Under this scheme, Government is paying entire employer's contribution  (12%  or  as  admissible)  towards  EPF  and  EPS  for  all  eligible  new employees  for  all  sectors  for  3  years.  Till  31-05-2019,  the  scheme  has  covered 1,51,579 establishments and 1.21 crore beneficiaries.

Pradhan  Mantri  Mudra  Yojana  (PMMY)  has  been  initiated  by  Government  inter alia  for  facilitating  self-employment.  Under  PMMY  collateral  free  loans  upto  Rs.  10 lakh,  are  extended  to  micro/small  business  enterprises  and  to  individuals  to  enable them to setup or expand their business activities. Upto 31st March, 2019, 18.26 crore loans were sanctioned under the scheme.

Start-up India is a flagship initiative of the Government of India, intended to build a strong ecosystem that is conducive for the growth of start-up businesses, to drive sustainable economic growth and generate large scale employment opportunities.

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