Lok Sabha Question No. 2136 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-08-02
Subject: Atmanirbhar Bharat Rojgar Yojana
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: Girish Bhalchandra Bapat, Rahul Ramesh Shewale, Pritam Gopinath Munde

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2136

TO BE ANSWERED ON 02 ND  AUGUST, 2021

## ATMANIRBHAR BHARAT ROJGAR YOJANA

2136.   SHRI GIRISH BHALCHANDRA BAPAT: SHRI RAHUL RAMESH SHEWALE: DR. PRITAM GOPINATHRAO MUNDE:

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

- (a) whether the Union Government is considering extending the timeline of the Atmanirbhar  Bharat  Rojgar  Yojana  till  March  next  year  from  the  existing June 30, 2021 and if so, the facts thereof;
- (b) the  number  of  newly  recruited  workers  projected  for  benefit  under  the scheme  and  the  number  of  newly  recruited  workers  benefitted  under  the scheme so far;
- (c) whether an employee drawing a monthly wage of less than Rs 15,000 and not  working  with  any  establishment  registered  with  EPFO  before  1st October, 2020 and not having a Universal Account Number or EPF Member account number prior to 1st October 2020 is eligible for the benefit;
- (d) if so, the details thereof and whether these employees will get the benefit of the scheme; and
- (e) the  steps  taken  to  boost  employment  generation  and  to  give  relief  to workers grappling with job loss and pay cuts during the pandemic?

## ANSWER

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

(a):  Aatmanirbhar  Bharat  Rojgar  Yojana  (ABRY)  has  been  launched  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.  The  terminal  date  for  registration  of beneficiary under the scheme has been extended from 30th June, 2021 to 31st March, 2022.

- (b):  The  ABRY  is  being  implemented  by  Ministry  of  Labour  &  Employment through  Employees'  Provident  Fund  Organisation  (EPFO)  and  aims  to  benefit estimated  71.80  lakh  beneficiaries.  As  on  26.07.2021,  benefit  of  Rs.  1193.18 crore has been provided to 25.57 lakh employees through 91,129 establishments under the scheme.
- (c) & (d): An employee drawing monthly wage of less than Rs. 15000/- who was not working in any establishment registered with the Employees' Provident Fund Organization  (EPFO)  before  1st October,  2020  is  eligible  for  the  benefit  under ABRY. Government is providing for a period of two years, both the employee's share  (12%  of  wages)  and  employer's  share  (12%  of  wages)  of  contribution payable or only the employee's share, depending on employment strength of the EPFO registered establishments.
- (e):  Government  of  India  has  taken  a  number  of  initiatives  for  promoting employment  generation  during  Covid-19  pandemic.  Financial  package  of  more than  Rs.  Twenty  seven  lakh  crore  under  'Aatma  Nirbhar  Bharat'  has  been launched  inter-alia,  to  create  employment  opportunities  for  migrant  workers, workers of organized and unorganized sector, strengthening of MSME sector and promoting rural economy.

Under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana (PMGKY) implemented by Ministry of Labour & Employment, Government of India has contributed both 12% employer's  share  and  12%  employee's  share  under  Employees  Provident  Fund (EPF), totaling 24% of the wage for the wage month from March to August, 2020 for  the establishments having upto 100 employees with 90% of such employees earning less than Rs. 15000/-. This has helped in providing employment in EPFO registered establishments during post Covid period.

Prime  Minister  Street  Vendor's  Atma  Nirbhar  Nidhi  (PM-  SVANidhi)  Scheme launched by Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has  facilitated collateral free working capital loan upto Rs.10,000/- for one-year tenure to street vendors, to help them resume their businesses.

Government had launched Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyaan (GKRA) of 125 days on 20th June, 2020 to boost employment and livelihood opportunities for returnee migrant workers and similarly affected persons including youth in rural areas, in the  wake  of  COVID-19  pandemic  in  116  selected  districts  across  6  States  of Bihar,  Jharkhand,  Madhya  Pradesh, Odisha,  Rajasthan  and  Uttar  Pradesh.  The scheme was implemented by Ministry of Rural Development.

RBI and Government of India have introduced measures to infuse liquidity in the economy to sustain the market economy and raise the level of employment.

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