Lok Sabha Question No. 84 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-14
Subject: Package to Check Unemployment Rate
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: Sisir Kumar Adhikari

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

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.84 TO BE ANSWERED ON 14 th SEPTEMBER, 2020 PACKAGE TO CHECK UNEMPLOYMENT RATE

## 84.  SHRI SISIR KUMAR ADHIKARI:

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

- (a) whether it is a fact that during the last five months the country has recorded an average to over 24 per cent unemployment rate and is highest at 27.11 percent in July 2020;
- (b) whether it is a fact that joblessness is the most serious concern of the country therefor; and
- (c) the action proposes by the Government and urgent sector-wise revival package to reanimate therefor?

## ANSWER

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

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

(b & c): The global spread of the corona virus (COVID-19) followed by lockdowns has affected global  economies including India. Covid-19 has resulted in large number of migrant  workers  going  back  to  their  native  places  and  loss  of  jobs  has  also  been observed in India during this period. Government has taken initiatives for creating jobs at  local  levels  &  supporting  migrant  workers  through  Pradhan  Mantri  Garib  Kalyan Yojana (PMGKY), Aatmanirbhar Bharat & Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Rozgar Abhayan (PMGKRA). Aatmanirbhar Bharat is based on Economy, Infrastructure, System, Vibrant Demography and Demand to create jobs for the youth. It encompasses an economic  package  of  Rs.  20  Lakh  Crores  for  facilitating  creation  of  employment opportunities in the country. Under PMGKY, besides providing food grains, ex-gratia payments directly in the accounts of beneficiaries, EPF contribution for employees working in certain establishments was also made by the Government to support the Industry particularly MSME Sector. Further the wage under MGNREGA has also been increased from Rs 182 per day to Rs 202 which has benefitted about 13.62 Crore families. Government of India, under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Rozgar Abhyan (PMGKRA), has taken various initiatives to boost rural infrastructure & rural economy to  provide  local  employment  opportunities  particularly  to  the  migrant  returnees.  It covers 116 districts of 6 States with a resource envelope of Rs 50,000 crore is being implemented  in  a  mission  mode  campaign  of  125  days  through  Ministry  of  Rural Development. Government  has  also  announced  the  measures  to  strengthen  Infrastructure Logistics, Capacity Building, Governance and Administrative Reforms for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Processing Sectors. Government  of  India  has  launched  PM  SVANidhi  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.

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