Question : UNEMPLOYMENT IN URBAN AREAS

(a) whether the Union Government is aware that urban unemployment in the country particularly in West Bengal has increased rapidly irrespective of launching Swarna Jayanti Shahari Rozgar Yojana (SJSRY) in the last few years as also reported in the Indian Express dated July 06,2004;

(b) if so, whether the Union Government`s strategy to create more job opportunities in general and under SJSRY in particular in the country could not achieve results in the past few years;

(c) if so, whether in view of growing unemployment in the country, Union Government has formulated any new strategy to face the challenge of growing unemployment in the urban areas; and

(d) if so, the details in this regard?

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) IN THE MINISTRY OF URBAN EMPLOYMENT & POVERTY ALLEVIATION ( KUMARI SELJA )

(a): Ministry of Labour has reported that the statistical data contained in the news item titled `West Bengal is No.1 in the number of urban employed` appearing in the Indian Express dated 6th July,2004, is based on the information maintained by it. Insofar as the implementation of Swarna Jayanti Shahari Rozgar Yojana (SJSRY) in the State of West Bengal is concerned, there is a decline in the number of beneficiaries assisted under Self Employment Programme component of SJSRY, while there is an increase in the number of mandays of work generated under Wage Employment component of the Scheme during 2003-04.

(b)to(d): During the Tenth Five Year Plan (2002-07), on all India basis, targets to provide 4,00,000 employment opportunities to the urban poor, through setting up of micro/group enterprises and to impart skill training to 5,00,000 persons have been fixed under SJSRY. Against these targets, as per the reports received from the State Governments/UTs, upto 31.3.04, during the first two years of the Tenth Plan (2002-03 and 2003-04), cumulatively 2,19,412 micro enterprises were set up and 2,16,090 persons were trained in the country.