Question : Unemployment Rate

(a) the unemployment rate during the last three years and the current year in the country, State-wise and whether it is true that the unemployment rate is increasing in the country specifically among the women, if so, the details thereof;
(b) the gender-wise details of the unemployment rate during the last three years along with the details of the employment opportunities provided by the Government during the said period;
(c) whether it is also true that women unemployment rate is higher in urban areas in comparison to that of rural areas;
(d) whether the Government has taken note of the serious unemployment situation borne out of the economic crisis in industries during Corona pandemic in industrial sector of Jharkhand, if so, the details there of along with the details of the people who lost their jobs in this sector during the above period; and
(e) the steps taken by the Government to check the problem of unemployment in the country?

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

(a): As per Annual Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), the estimated unemployment rate for female of age 15 years and above for the year 2017-18, 2018-19 and 2019-20 on usual status basis was 5.6%, 5.1% and 4.2% respectively. State/UT-wise details of unemployment rate is given at Annexure-I.

(b) to (e): As per PLFS report, the gender-wise estimated unemployment rate for persons of age 15 years and above both in rural and urban areas on usual status basis is as follows:
Unemployment Rate
(UR) (in %) Rural Urban
Male Female Male Female
2017-18 5.7 3.8 6.9 10.8
2018-19 5.5 3.5 7.0 9.8
2019-20 4.5 2.6 6.4 8.9

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 Rs. 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.

Aatmanirbhar Bharat Rojgar Yojana (ABRY) has been launched with effect from 1st October, 2020 as part of Atmanirbhar Bharat package 3.0 to incentivize employers for creation of new employment along with social security benefits and restoration of loss of employment during Covid-19 pandemic. This scheme being implemented through the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), seeks to reduce the financial burden of the employers and encourages them to hire more workers. The terminal date for registration of beneficiaries has been extended from 30.06.2021 to 31.03.2022. Benefits have been provided to 46.89 lakh beneficiaries through 1.26 lakh establishments till 29.01.2022.

Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY) is being implemented 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 21.01.2022, 32.12 crore loans were sanctioned under the scheme. The Production Linked Incentive Schemes being implemented by the Government have potential for creating 60 lakh new jobs.

Government had launched the Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyaan (GKRA) of 125 days on 20th June, 2020 to boost employment and livelihood opportunities for returnee migrant workers and similarly affected persons including youth in rural areas, in 116 selected districts across 6 States of Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. The Abhiyan had achieved an employment generation of 1.33 Crore Person-days in Jharkhand.

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 Sabka Prayas leading to huge job and entrepreneurial opportunities for all.

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

Besides these initiatives, various flagship programmes of the Government such as Make in India, Digital India, Smart City Mission, Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation, Housing for All, Infrastructure Development and Industrial Corridors are also oriented towards generating employment opportunities.

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