Lok Sabha Question No. 3301 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-08-09
Subject: Rural/Urban Unemployment Rate
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: V. Kalanidhi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3301

TO BE ANSWERED ON 09 TH  AUGUST, 2021

## RURAL/URBAN UNEMPLOYMENT RATE

3301.  DR. KALANIDHI VEERASWAMY:

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

- (a) the details of the Rural/Ubran unemployment rate during the last three years in the country;
- (b) whether the Government is aware that the Country's unemployment rate is 12 per cent against two per cent in 2012;
- (c) whether  the  Government  is  also  aware  that  the  country's  unemployment  has risen to an alarming stage and if so, the reasons therefor; and
- (d) the manner in which the Government is going tobring it down?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## (SHRI RAMESWAR TELI)

(a) to (c): The data on employment/ unemployment is being collected through Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) conducted by National Statistical Office (NSO), Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation( MoSPI) since 2017-18. As per the results of PLFS  conducted  during  2017-18,  2018-19  and  2019-20,  the  unemployment  rate  for persons of 15 years and above on usual status in the country was as under :

| Unemployment Rate (in %)   | Unemployment Rate (in %)   | Unemployment Rate (in %)   | Unemployment Rate (in %)   |
|----------------------------|----------------------------|----------------------------|----------------------------|
| PLFS (Year)                | Rural                      | Urban                      | Total                      |
| 2017-18                    | 5.3                        | 7.7                        | 6.0                        |
| 2018-19                    | 5.0                        | 7.6                        | 5.8                        |
| 2019-20                    | 3.9                        | 6.9                        | 4.8                        |

Prior to 2017-18, the quinquennial labour force surveys on employment and unemployment were being conducted by NSO. The last such survey was the NSS 68th round conducted during 2011-12. As per the results of this survey, the unemployment rate  of  all  ages  in  the  country  to  the  extent  available  was  2.2%.  However,  Survey methodology and sample selection in PLFS and in quinquennial labour force surveys on employment  and  unemployment  are  different,  hence,  the  results  of  both  are  not comparable.

(d):    Government of India has taken a number of initiatives for promoting employment generation  in  the  country.  Aatmanirbhar  Bharat  RojgarYojana  (ABRY)  has  been launched  w.e.f.  1st  October,  2020  to  incentivize  employers  for  creation  of  new employment along with social security benefits and restoration of employment. The terminal date for registration of beneficiary under the scheme has been extended from 30th June, 2021 to 31st March, 2022.

PM- SVANidhi Scheme has facilitated collateral free working capital loan upto Rs.10,000/-  for  one-year  tenure  to  street  vendors,  to  help  them    resume  their businesses during the post Covid period.

Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY) is being implemented by the Government inter alia, for facilitating self-employment. Under PMMY collateral free loans uptoRs. 10 lakh, are extended to micro/small business enterprises and to individuals to enable them to setup or expand their business activities.

In addition, to enhance the employment generation, Government is encouraging various projects involving substantial investment and through 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),  Deendayal  Antodaya  YojanaNational  Urban  Livelihoods  Mission  (DAY-NULM)  and  Pradhan  Mantri  Kaushal  Vikas Yojana  (PMKVY)  run  by  Ministry  of  Micro,  Small  &  Medium  Enterprises,  Ministry  of Rural Development,  Ministry  of Housing  &  Urban  Affairs  and  Ministry  of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE), respectively.

Besides these initiatives, flagship programmes of the Government such as Make in  India,  Digital  India,  Swachh  Bharat  Mission,  Smart  City  Mission,  Atal  Mission  for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation, Housing for All, Infrastructure development and  Industrial  corridors  and  Production-Linked  Incentive  (PLI)  Scheme  have  the potential to generate productive employment opportunities.

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