MINISTER OF STATE FOR PLANNING, SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY & EARTH SCIENCES
(DR. ASHWANI KUMAR)
(a): According to the Household Consumer Expenditure Survey Report, 2009-10 of the
National Sample Survey Organization (NSSO), average monthly per capita expenditure of the
lowest decile in India is Rs. 404.60 and Rs. 554.70 in rural and urban areas respectively.
(b): For promoting employment opportunities in the rural and urban areas, various
schemes like Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), Swarna
Jayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY), National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) and
Swarna Jayanti Shahari Rozgar Yojana (SJSRY) are in operation across the country. In
addition to the above the overall expansion of the Indian economy and enhancement of GDP
growth over the years have significantly contributed for enlarging employment opportunities
across the country in different sectors of the economy. Vocational training and empowerment
of people through education enables greater employability of our people.
(c) & (d): Under MGNREGA, which provides for atleast 100 days of guaranteed wage
employment in every household whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual
work, there is a provision for paying unemployment allowance if employment is not
provided. As there is no age limit in MGNREGA, senior citizens can also avail its benefits.
According to Ministry of Rural Development, there is no proposal to enhance the
unemployment allowance under MGNREGA.
