(a) Whether the Government have received the report of Shri S.P. Gupta Committee
constituted by the Planning Commission;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether this report has suggested to remove all kinds of restrictions imposed on
agricultural products in the Tenth Plan; and
(d) if so, the reaction of the Government thereto?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE (SHRI HUKUMDEO NARAYAN YADAV)
(a): Yes, Sir.
(b): It deals with different programmes and policies aimed at creating employment
opportunities for fifty million persons covering different sectors including agriculture sector
during the Tenth Plan. The committee interacted with various ministries and attempted to
recommend appropriate macro and sectoral policies and programmes in specific areas needed to
generate the aforesaid employment during the Tenth Plan. The basic objective is to absorb all
new entrants to the labour force over the Tenth Plan period by gainful, high quality employment,
and to remove unemployment by the turn of this decade.
(c) & (d): The report suggested removal of all restrictions on movement of agricultural
produce through a central legislation. It also suggested removal of all restrictions and licensing
of processing of agricultural produce. Work for implementing the recommendations contained
in the Report of the Committee has already been initiated by the Planning Commission in
consultation with the concerned Ministries / Departments.