Question : EMPLOYMENT GENERATION SCHEMES IN RURAL AREAS

(a) the details of the employment generation schemes being implemented by the Union Government in the rural areas of the country during the last three years and the current year along with the funds allocated, released and utilized by the State Governments, scheme-wise and State-wise;

(b) whether these schemes have not succeeded adequately to achieve the target of providing employment to the rural unemployed youth;

(c) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor; and

(d) the remedial measures taken/proposed to be taken by the Goverment in this regard?

MINISTER OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT (DR. C. P. JOSHI)

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

Statement referred to in reply to Lok Sabha Starred Question No.89 for reply on 15-11-2010.

(a): The Ministry of Rural Development is implementing the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) for enhancing livelihood security in rural areas by providing at least 100 days of guaranteed wage employment in a financial year to every household whose adult member volunteer to do unskilled manual work and Swaranjayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY)/ National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) for generating self employment in the rural areas of the country. The SGSY has been conceived as a holistic programme covering all aspects of self employment like organization of rural poor into Self Help Groups (SHGs) their capacity building, training, planning of activity clusters, infrastructure development, providing financial assistance through bank credit and subsidy, and providing marketing support. The scheme-wise and State-wise break-up of funds allocated, released and utilized are given in the Annexure I and II.

(b) & (c): Targets are fixed under SGSY to assist swarozgaries. During 2007-08, 16.99 lakh swarozgaris were assisted vis-à-vis the target of 13.52 lakh, during 2008-09, 18.62 lakh swarozgaris were assisted vis-à-vis the target of 17.64 lakh and during 2009-10, 20.85 lakh swarozgaris were assisted vis-à-vis the target of 18.22 lakh. The MGNREGA is demand based and, therefore, has no target. As per report received from the States, 3.39 crores households were provided employment during 2007-08, 4.51 crores households during 2008-09 and 5.25 crore households during 2009-10. These programmes mostly benefit the rural unemployed youth.

(d): Does not arise.