Lok Sabha Question No. 86 (STARRED), answered on 2024-07-29
Subject: Employment for SCs, STs, OBCs and EWS
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: Prof. Varsha Eknath Gaikwad, Shri Mohite Patil Dhairyasheel Rajsinh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT LOK SABHA

## STARRED QUESTION NO. *86 TO BE ANSWERED ON 29 TH  JULY, 2024

## EMPLOYMENT FOR SCs, STs, OBCs AND EWS

- *86.   PROF. VARSHA EKNATH GAIKWAD: SHRI MOHITE PATIL DHAIRYASHEEL RAJSINH:

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

- (a) whether there has been huge increase in the number of urban and rural unemployed persons registered in the country during the last three years and if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
- (b) the  details  of  the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  address unemployment  among  Scheduled  Castes  (SCs),  Scheduled  Tribes (STs),  Other  Backward  Classes  (OBCs)  and  Economically  Weaker Sections  in  the  country  especially  in  the  State  of  Maharashtra during the last three years and the current year and the constraints faced by the Government in this regard;
- (c) whether any permanent employment opportunities have been created for SCs, STs, OBCs and EWS communities and the number of posts remain vacant as of now and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether  any  measures  are  taken/implemented  to  expedite  the recruitment process given the disparities in employment opportunities;
- (e) the steps taken by the Government to make them aware about the rights  and  opportunities  available  for  SC  and  ST  communities  and ensure their equal participation in the workforce; and
- (f) the details of the policies being advocated to achieve this goal?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (DR. MANSUKH MANDAVIYA)

(a) to (f):  A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

*

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (f) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *86 DUE FOR REPLY ON 29.07.2024 BY PROF. VARSHA EKNATH GAIKWAD, SHRI MOHITE PATIL DHAIRYASHEEL RAJSINH REGARDING 'EMPLOYMENT FOR SCS, STS, OBCS AND EWS'

(a) to (f): The data on Employment and Unemployment is collected through Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) which is conducted by the Ministry of Statistics  and  Programme  Implementation  (MoSPI)  since  2017 -18.  The survey period is July to June every 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  in  both  rural  and  urban  areas  during  2020 -21  to  2022 -23  are  as follows:

| Unemployment Rate (in %)   | Unemployment Rate (in %)   | Unemployment Rate (in %)   | Unemployment Rate (in %)   |
|----------------------------|----------------------------|----------------------------|----------------------------|
| Years                      | Rural                      | Urban                      | All India                  |
| 2020 - 21                  | 3.3                        | 6.7                        | 4.2                        |
| 2021 - 22                  | 3.2                        | 6.3                        | 4.1                        |
| 2022 - 23                  | 2.4                        | 5.4                        | 3.2                        |

Source: PLFS, MoSPI

The data indicates that the unemployment rate in the country has a declining trend over the years, in both Rural and Urban areas.

As per PLFS report, Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR), Worker Population Ratio (WPR) and Unemployment Rate (UR) on usual status for different social groups i.e. Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs) and  Other  Backward  Classes  (OBCs)  indicating  that  LFPR  and  WPR  has increased  in  2022 -23  compared  to  2020 -21,  while  UR  has  decreased  in 2022 -23 compared to 2020 -21, as in table below:

(in%)

| Social Group   | 2020 - 21   | 2020 - 21   | 2020 - 21   | 2021 - 22   | 2021 - 22   | 2021 - 22   | 2022 - 23   | 2022 - 23   | 2022 - 23   |
|----------------|-------------|-------------|-------------|-------------|-------------|-------------|-------------|-------------|-------------|
| Social Group   | LFPR        | WPR         | UR          | LFPR        | WPR         | UR          | LFPR        | WPR         | UR          |
| SC             | 49.3        | 47.9        | 2.7         | 49.2        | 48          | 2.4         | 51.6        | 50.7        | 1.8         |
| ST             | 42          | 40.2        | 4.2         | 41.2        | 39.4        | 4.4         | 43.2        | 41.8        | 3.2         |
| OBC            | 40.9        | 39.2        | 4.2         | 40.7        | 39.1        | 3.9         | 42.9        | 41.5        | 3.3         |

In so far as the employment opportunities in the Central Government  is  concerned,  reservation  is  provided  to  Scheduled  Castes (SCs),  Scheduled  Tribes  (STs),  Other  Backward  Classes  (OBCs)  and Economically Weaker Sections EWS @ 15%, 7.5%, 27% and 10% respectively in civil posts and services to be filled by direct recruitment on all India basis by open competition. As regards the vacant posts in the Government, it  is  stated  that  occurrence  and  filling  up  of  vacant  posts, including reserved category vacancies in various Ministries/ Departments is a continuous process.

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  including Maharashtra.

Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India is striving to uplift and empower disadvantaged and marginalized sections of the society, particularly the SC and OBC Community. A first of its kind, Venture  Capital  Fund  for  Scheduled  Castes  (VCF -SC)  was  launched  by Ministry  of  Social  Justice  and  Empowerment,  in  2014 -2015.  A  similar scheme  for  backward  classes  (VCF -BC)  was  launched  in  2017 -2018. Financial support from Rs l0 lakh to Rs 15 Crores is provided under VCF -SC and VCF -BC at coupon rate of 4% and 6% respectively. The scheme is applicable  PAN  India.  Till  date,  86  SC  and  5  OBC  entrepreneurs  have benefited from Maharashtra.

The  schemes  inter -alia,  aim  to  provide  concessional  finance  to Schedule  Caste  and  Backward  Classes  entrepreneurs,  who  will  create wealth  and  value  for  society  and  at  the  same  time  will  promote  their profitable businesses, which also enhances direct and indirect employment generation for these communities.

Ministry  of  Labour  and  Employment  is  also  implementing  the 'Welfare of SC/ST jobseekers Scheme' through the network of 25 National Career  Service  Centres  for  SC/ST  (NCSC -SC/STs)  across  the  country  to enhance  the  employability  of  SC/ST  jobseekers  through  pre  recruitment training,  vocational  guidance,  career  counselling  and  computer  training etc.  with  a  view  to  prepare  them  to  meet  the  demands  of  the  labour market.

The various Ministries/ Departments of Government of India like Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium  Enterprises, Ministry of Rural Development,  Ministry  of  Housing  &  Urban  Affairs,  Ministry  of  Finance, Ministry  of  Textile,  Ministry  of  Electronics  and  Information  Technology etc. are implementing different employment generation schemes/ programmes  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), Rural Self Employment and Training Institutes (RSETIs),  Deen Dayal Antodaya Yojana -National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY -NULM), Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY), etc. including increase in capital expenditure to boost employment creation. The details of various employment generation  schemes/programmes  being  implemented  by  the Government of India may be seen at https://dge.gov.in/dge/schemes\_programmes.

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