Lok Sabha Question No. 3157 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-20
Subject: Employment to North-eastern States
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: Vincent H Pala

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

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3157

TO BE ANSWERED ON 20 TH  MARCH, 2023

## EMPLOYMENT TO NORTH-EASTERN STATES

## 3157.  SHRI VINCENT H. PALA :

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

- (a)  the  unemployment  rate  within  the  country  during  the  last  three  financial years;
- (b)   the  number  of  jobs  created  by  the  Government  during  the  last  three financial years;
- (c)     whether  the  Government  is  planning  to  give  a  monthly  unemployment allowance  to  the  unemployed  youth  for  their  sustenance  and  if  so,  the details thereof, if not, the reasons  therefor and  the details of the unemployment rate in the North Eastern States;
- (d)     whether the Union Government proposes to start any Centrally Sponsored Scheme to provide  employment  to  the  youth  in  the  North-eastern  States and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e)     whether it is a fact that the labour force in the country is about 47.5 crore and the labour force participation rate is 48 per cent?

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

(a)  to  (e):  The  data  on  Employment  and  Unemployment  is  collected  through Periodic  Labour  Force  Survey  (PLFS)  conducted  by  the  Ministry  of  Statistics and  Programme  Implementation  (MoSPI)  since  2017-18.  The  survey  period  is July to June of next year. As per the latest available Annual PLFS reports, the estimated Unemployment Rate (UR), Worker Population Ratio (WPR) and Labour Force participation rate (LFPR) for persons of age 15 years and above during the last three years is as follows:

| Years   |   UR (%) |   WPR (%) |   LFPR (%) |
|---------|----------|-----------|------------|
| 2019-20 |      4.8 |      50.9 |       53.5 |
| 2020-21 |      4.2 |      52.6 |       54.9 |
| 2021-22 |      4.1 |      52.9 |       55.2 |

Source: PLFS, MoSPI

The  above  data  indicates  that  the  unemployment  rate  has  a  declining trend  and  on  the  other  hand,  Worker  Population  Ratio  (i.e.  employment)  and Labour Force participation rate has an increasing trend.

The estimated Unemployment Rate (UR)for North-eastern States on usual status for persons of age 15years and above during 2021-22 is at Annexure.

Under the Atal BeemitVyakti Kalyan Yojana (ABVKY) being implemented by  the  Employees'  State  Insurance  Corporation  (ESIC),  the  unemployment benefit subject to eligibility conditions, is paid to insured workers who lose their job.  The  unemployment  benefit  under  the  ABVKY  has  been  enhanced  to  50% from  25%  of  the  average  daily  earning,  payable  upto  90  days,  alongwith relaxation of eligibility conditions to claim the benefit for insured workers who have lost employment due to COVID-19.

Employment  generation  coupled  with  improving  employability  is  the priority  of  the  Government.  Multi-pronged  strategies  are  being  taken  by  the Government to address issues relating to employment opportunities (including issues  in  North  Eastern  States)  through  Centrally  Sponsored  Schemes  viz. Mahatma  Gandhi  National  Rural  Employment  Guarantee  Scheme(MGNREGS), Deendayal  Antyoday  Yojana-  National  Rural  Livelihood  Mission  (DAY-NRLM), DeenDayal  Antodaya  Yojana-National  Urban  Livelihoods  Mission  (DAY-NULM), Deendayal  Upadhyay-  Gramin  Kaushalya  Yojana  (DDU-GKY),Pradhan  Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), Shyama Prasad Mukherjee RURban Mission, etc.

Recently, the Government has launched a new Central Sector Scheme, Prime  Minister's  Development  Initiative  for  North  East  Region  (PMDevINE), which aims rapid and holistic development of the NorthEast Region by funding infrastructure and social development projects, based on felt needs of the States. The  scheme  will lead to creation of infrastructure, support industries, social development projects and create livelihood activities for youth and women, thus leading to employment generation.

Investments  in  Infrastructure  and  productive  capacity  have  a  large multiplier impact on growth and employment. The budget of 2023-24 proposed to increase capital investment outlay steeply for the third year in a row by 33 per  cent  to  Rs  10  lakh  crore,  which  would  be  3.3  per  cent  of  GDP.  This substantial  increase  in  recent  years  is  central  to  the  government's  efforts  to enhance growth potential and job creation.

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 has provided fiscal stimulus of more than Rupees 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.

The Aatmanirbhar Bharat Rojgar Yojana (ABRY) was launched with effect from 1st October, 2020 to incentivize employers for creation of new employment and restoration of loss of employment during Covid-19 pandemic. The terminal date  for  registration  of  beneficiaries  was  31.03.2022.  Since  inception  of  the scheme, till 28.02.2023, benefits have been provided to 60.31 lakhs beneficiaries under the scheme.

The  Government  is  implementing  Prime  Minister  Street  Vendor's  Atma Nirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi Scheme) since June 01, 2020 to facilitate collateral free  working  capital  loan  to  street  vendors  to  restart  their  businesses,  which were adversely impacted during the Covid-19 pandemic. As on 13.03.2023, 42.21 lakh loans have been disbursed under the scheme.

Further, the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) is implementing  the  National  Apprenticeship  Promotion  Scheme  (NAPS)  and Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) to enhance the employability of youth.

Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY) was launched 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. As on 24.02.2023, 39.65 crore loan accounts sanctioned under the scheme.

The Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes is being implemented by the  Government with an outlay of Rs. 1.97 lakh crore, for a period of 5 years starting from 2021-22 which have potential for creating 60 lakh new jobs.

PM  Gati  Shakti  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.

Besides these initiatives, various flagship programmes of the Government such as Make in India, Start-up India, Stand-up India, Digital India, Housing for All  etc.  are  also  oriented  towards  generating  employment  opportunities.  All these  initiatives  are  expected  to  collectively  generate  employment  in  the medium to long term through multiplier-effects.

****

Annexure referred to in reply of part (a)  to  (e)  of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 3157 due for reply on 20.03.2023.

## Estimated Unemployment Rate (UR) for North-eastern States

|   Sl. No. | States            |   2021-22 |
|-----------|-------------------|-----------|
|         1 | Arunachal Pradesh |       7.7 |
|         2 | Assam             |       3.9 |
|         3 | Manipur           |       9   |
|         4 | Meghalaya         |       2.6 |
|         5 | Mizoram           |       5.4 |
|         6 | Nagaland          |       9.1 |
|         7 | Sikkim            |       1.6 |
|         8 | Tripura           |       3   |

Source: PLFS,MoSPI.