Question : LOSS OF JOBS IN AGRICULTURAL AND INDUSTRIAL SECTORS

MINISTER OF STATE FOR PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS & PLANNING (SHRI RAJEEV SHUKLA)

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

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 99 FOR ANSWER ON 11.12.2013 FROM SHRI BASUDEB ACHARIA AND SHRI PASHUPATI NATH SINGH REGARDING “LOSS OF JOBS IN AGRICULTURAL AND INDUSTRIAL SECTOR”.

(a) & (b): As per the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) Employment-Unemployment Surveys the number of people employed in agricultural sector saw a decline in 2011-12 as compared to 2004-05 by 34.61 million while the number of people employed both in the secondary and service sector have seen an increase by 30.69 million and 19.35 million respectively. (Table-1).

Table-1 Estimated Sectoral Employment (in millions)- 2004-05 & 2011-12- on UPSS
basis
Sectors	2004-05	2011-12	Absolute increase in	employment in millions
I. Agriculture	258.93	224.32	-34.61
II. Secondary	85.73	116.42	30.69
III. Services	112.81	132.16	19.35
IV. Total	457.46	472.90	15.44
Sectoral
Employment

Source: Estimated from NSSO Key Indicators of Employment & Unemployment in India 2004-05 and 2011-12

The contraction of jobs in the agriculture sector and creation of new jobs in the non- agriculture sector is in line with the employment trends that accompany many developing economies in transition from primarily agriculture based economies to diversified and mature emerging economies.

(c): The estimated number of jobs created in the various sectors of the economy as per the latest 68th Round of the NSSO Employment- Unemployment Survey for 2011-12 is given in Table-2:
Table-2 Estimated Employment across various sectors (in millions) UPSS basis

Sectors	2011-12
Agriculture	224.32
Secondary	116.42
Services	132.16
Total	472.90

Source: Estimated from NSSO Key Indicators of Employment and Unemployment in India 2011-12

(d): The Twelfth Five Year Plan aims at creation of 50 million additional work opportunities in the non-farm sector by identifying labour intensive sectors for special thrust for generating more employment including textile & garments, food processing, leather & footwear, gems and jewellery, handloom and handicrafts etc.; promoting the MSME sector by providing access to risk capital, technology, etc.; encouraging cluster approach by creating National Investment and Manufacturing Zones (NIMZs); etc.

(e): The action plan of the Government to achieve the said targets includes the following:

i. Special emphasis on relatively more labour intensive sectors and inducing a faster growth of such sectors;
ii. Enhancing the employability through skill development in general, paying particular attention to identifying specific skill gaps and taking effective steps to fill them to meet requirement of non- farm sector where jobs are expected to be created;
iii. Improving labour market conditions in terms of providing of decent working conditions, including social security benefits to workers, especially in the unorganized sector.
iv. The Government is also making efforts to revive the growth impetus, which is essential for creation of productive jobs in the future.