Lok Sabha Question No. 5234 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-04-04
Subject: Unemployment in Maharashtra
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: Amol Ramsing Kolhe

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.5234 TO BE ANSWERED ON 04 TH  APRIL, 2022

## UNEMPLOYMENT IN MAHARASHTRA

## 5234.  DR. AMOL RAMSING KOLHE:

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

- (a) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  provide  the  unemployed  persons  with employment in view of growing unemployment in various districts of Maharashtra and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government is considering to start a big project in order to provide employment  to  the  unemployed  persons  in  various  districts  of  Maharashtra; and
- (c) if  so, the time by which the said project is likely to start and other details in this regard?

ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SHRI RAMESWAR TELI)

(a)  to  (c):  The  data  on  Employment  and  Unemployment  is  collected  through Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) conducted by National Statistical Office (NSO),  Ministry  of  Statistics  and  Programme  Implementation  (MoSPI)  since 2017-18. The year-wise estimated Worker Population Ratio (WPR) and Unemployment Rate (UR) in Maharashtra on usual status for age 15 years and above during the last two years are given below:

| Years                               |   2018-19 |   2019-20 |
|-------------------------------------|-----------|-----------|
| Worker Population Ratio (WPR) (in%) |      50.6 |      55.7 |
| Unemployment Rate (UR) (in %)       |       5   |       3.2 |

Source :MoSPI

The data in the above table indicates that unemployment rate on usual status for the persons of age 15 years and above has declined whereas the worker population ratio has increased in Maharashtra during the year 2019-20 as compared to 2018-19.

Employment  generation  coupled  with  improving  employability  is  the priority  of  the  Government.  Accordingly,  the  Government  of  India  has  taken various  steps  for  generating  employment  in  the  country  including  various districts of Maharashtra. The Government of India has announced Aatmanirbhar Bharat package to provide stimulus to business and to mitigate the  adverse  impact  of  Covid  19.  Under  this  package,  the  Government  is providing  fiscal  stimulus  of  more  than  Rs.  Twenty  Seven  lakh  crore.  This package  comprises  of  various  long  term  schemes/  programmes/  policies  for making the country self-reliant and to create employment opportunities.

Aatmanirbhar  Bharat  Rojgar  Yojana  (ABRY)  has  been  launched  with effect from 1st October, 2020 as part of Atmanirbhar Bharat package 3.0 to incentivize  employers  for  creation  of  new  employment  along  with  social security  benefits  and  restoration  of  loss  of  employment  during  Covid-19 pandemic. This scheme being implemented through the Employees' Provident Fund  Organisation  (EPFO),  seeks  to  reduce  the  financial  burden  of  the employers and encourages them to hire more workers. The terminal date for registration of beneficiaries has been extended from 30.06.2021 to 31.03.2022. In Maharashtra, benefits have been provided to 8.91 lakh beneficiaries through 20.36 thousands establishments till 21.03.2022.

Pradhan  Mantri  Mudra  Yojana  (PMMY)  is  being  implemented  by  the Government  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. In Maharashtra, 2.69 crore loans  were sanctioned under the scheme  till 25.02.2022.

PM  GatiShakti  is  a  transformative  approach  for  economic  growth  and sustainable  development.  The  approach  is  driven  by  seven  engines,  namely, Roads,  Railways,  Airports,  Ports,  Mass  Transport,  Waterways,  and  Logistics Infrastructure. This approach is powered by Clean Energy and Sabka Prayas leading to huge job and entrepreneurial opportunities for all.

The Government has put emphasis on railways, roads, urban transport, power, telecom, textiles and affordable housing amid continued focus on the National Infrastructure Pipeline. Budget 2021-22 launched Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes, with an outlay of Rs. 1.97 lakh crore, for a period of 5 years starting from 2021-22. All these initiatives are expected to collectively generate employment and boost output in the medium to long term through multiplier-effects.

The  Government  of  India  is  encouraging  various  projects  involving substantial investment and public expenditure on schemes  like Prime Minister's  Employment  Generation  Programme  (PMEGP)  of  the  Ministry  of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises, Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment  Guarantee  Scheme  (MGNREGS)  &  Pt.  Deen  Dayal  Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY) of the Ministry of Rural Development, Deen Dayal Antodaya Yojana-National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM) of the Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs etc. for employment generation.

Besides these initiatives, various flagship programmes of the Government  such  as  Make  in  India,  Start-up  India,  Digital  India,  Smart  City Mission, Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation, Housing for All,  Infrastructure  Development  and  Industrial  Corridors  are  also  oriented towards generating employment opportunities.

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