Lok Sabha Question No. 2052 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-12-19
Subject: Shrunken Labour Market
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: Khagen Murmu

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2052

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 19 TH  DECEMBER, 2022

## SHRUNKEN LABOUR MARKET

## 2052.  SHRI KHAGEN MURMU:

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

- (a)  whether  the  Government  is  cognizant  of  the  increasing  unemployment rate in the country and if so, the details thereof;
- (b)  whether the Government has list of sectors/industries which saw dip in hiring in FY 2021-22 and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has commissioned any survey to understand the reasons for decline in employment rate in rural India;
- (d) whether the Government has a plan to revive the shrunken labour market and if so, the details thereof if not, reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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

(a)  to  (d):  The  data  source  on  Employment  and  Unemployment  is  Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) which is conducted by the Ministry of Statistics & 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)  on  usual  status  for  persons  of  age  15 years and above was 5.8%, 4.8% and 4.2% during 2018-19, 2019-20 and 202021,  respectively,  which  shows  that  unemployment  rate  in  the  country  has declined.

The  estimated  Worker  Population  Ratio  (WPR)  in  rural  areas  on  usual status  for  persons  of  age  15  years  &  above  was  48.9%,  53.3%  and  55.5% during 2018-19, 2019-20 and 2020-21, respectively, which shows  that employment in rural areas has increasing trend.

The  estimated  percentage  distribution  of  workers  in  usual  status  by broad industry division during 2018-19 to 2020-21 is given at Annexure.

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. 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  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 28.11.2022, benefits of Rs. 7855.07 Crore have been provided to 60.13 lakhs beneficiaries under the scheme.

The Government is implementing Prime Minister Street Vendor's AtmaNirbharNidhi  (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  02.12.2022,  37.68  lakh  loans  amounting  to  Rs.4,378  Crore  have  been disbursed under the scheme.

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

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. Upto 25.11.2022, an amount of Rs 15.56 lakh crore was disbursed in 37.76 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. All these  initiatives  are  expected  to  collectively  generate  employment  in  the medium to long term through multiplier-effects.

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  SabkaPrayas 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.

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Annexure referred to in reply of part (a)  to (d)  of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2052 due for reply on 19.12.2022.

Estimated workers in usual status by broad industry division during 201819, 2019-20 and 2020-21.

(in%)

| Sl. No.   | Broad industry Division as per NIC-2008   |   2018-19 |   2019-20 |   2020-21 |
|-----------|-------------------------------------------|-----------|-----------|-----------|
| 1         | Agriculture                               |      42.5 |      45.6 |      46.5 |
| 2         | Mining & quarrying                        |       0.4 |       0.3 |       0.3 |
| 3         | Manufacturing                             |      12.1 |      11.2 |      10.9 |
| 4         | Electricity, water, etc.                  |       0.6 |       0.6 |       0.6 |
| 5         | Construction                              |      12.1 |      11.6 |      12.1 |
| 6         | Trade, hotel & restaurant                 |      12.6 |      13.2 |      12.2 |
| 7         | Transport, storage & communications       |       5.9 |       5.6 |       5.4 |
| 8         | Other services                            |      13.8 |      11.9 |      12   |
|           | Total                                     |     100   |     100   |     100   |

Source: PLFS, MoSPI.