(a) whether the economic growth has not resulted in generation of employment for
the rural people in the country;
(b) if so, whether the Planning Commission has conducted any study to find out the
reasons therefor;
(c) if so, the details of the outcome thereof;
(d) whether the Planning Commission has any proposal to implement policy with the
focus on employment generation through different short-term programmes; and
(e) if so, the details thereof?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PLANNING (SHRI M.V. RAJASEKHARAN)
(a) to (c): As per the estimates made by Planning Commission in the Tenth Five
Year Plan, the employment opportunities in rural areas increased from 241.04 million in
1993-94 to 250.89 million in 1999-2000, the latest year for which the results of the NSSO
quinquennial survey on employment and unemployment are available.
(d) & (e): Accelerating the rate of growth of the economy, while ensuring an
acceleration in growth of agriculture and other labour intensive sectors, is an integral part
of the sustainable employment strategy of Government. Implementation of the various
policy initiatives, emerging from the Mid-Term Appraisal of Tenth Plan, will help to
achieve this objective.