Lok Sabha Question No. 851 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-07-26
Subject: Impact of Unemployment on Women
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Shri Charanjit Singh Channi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 851

TO BE ANSWERED ON 26.07.2024

## IMPACT OF UNEMPLOYMENT ON WOMEN

## 851. SHRI CHARANJIT SINGH CHANNI:

Will the Minister of WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has assessed the impact of unemployment on women during the last five years and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government has evaluated the mental health issues in women caused by unemployment and high inflation and if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) whether the Ministry has any specific plan to tackle growing mental illness and depression in women caused by unemployment and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER FOR WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT (SHRIMATI ANNPURNA DEVI)

(a):     As  per  the  latest  available  Annual  Periodic  Labour  Force  Survey  (PLFS) Reports, the estimated Unemployment Rate (UR) on usual status for persons of age 15 years and above has decreased from 6.0% in 2017-18 to 4.1% in 2021-22.

As per the PLFS Reports, the estimated Worker Population Ratio (WPR), indicating employment, on usual status for persons  of  age 15  years  and  above  was  46.8%, 47.3%, 50.9%, 52.6% and 52.9% during 2017-18, 2018-19, 2019-20, 2020-21 and 2021-22, respectively, which shows an increasing trend.

In rural areas, Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) increased from 50.7% in 201718 to 60.8% in 2022-23 while for urban areas it increased from 47.6% to 50.4%. LFPR for  male  in  India  increased  from  75.8%  in  2017-18  to  78.5%  in  2022-23  and corresponding increase in LFPR for female was from 23.3% to 37.0%.

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.

One  of  the  most  successful  schemes  of  the  Central  Government  is  Deendayal Antyodaya  Yojna  -  National  Rural  Livelihoods  Mission  (DAY-NRLM),  under  which approximately 90 lakhs women self-help groups having nearly 10 crore members are changing the rural landscape for employment/ self-employment.  Similarly, National Urban Livelihoods Mission (NULM) is for urban areas. Besides, there are schemes like  the  Pradhan  Mantri  Mudra  Yojana  (PMMY),  Stand-up  India,  Start-up  India, Pradhan Mantri Street Vendors AtmaNirbharNidhi (PM SVANidhi), Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), for providing employment/ self-employment and credit facilities. Majority of the beneficiaries under these schemes are women. The Central Government also provides skill and vocational training  to  the  women  under  the  Pradhan  Mantri  Kaushal  Vikas  Yojna  (PMKVY). Similarly, the Government implements the Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan  (PMGDISHA)  to  provide  digital  literacy  to  rural  populations.  These  two schemes have also helped women and girls gaining necessary skills required for jobs and entrepreneurship.

(b) & (c) : The Ministry of Women and Child Development implements the component of One Stop Centre, under which integrated services such as medical aid, psychosocial counselling, police facilitation, Legal aid and counselling etc. provided under one  roof  to  the  needy  and  distressed  women.  The  Ministry  of  Women  and  Child Development  through  National  Institute  of  Mental  Health  and  Neuro  Sciences (NIMHANS) has also provided basic and advanced training under the project named 'Stree Manoraksha' to the staff of One Stop Centres (OSCs) across the country on handling psycho-social and mental health care needs to support the women facing violence and women in distress.

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