Improvement of employment generation

 The data on Employment and Unemployment is collected through Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) which is conducted by the Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation (MoSPI) since 2017-18. The survey period is July to June every year. As per the latest available Annual PLFS Reports, the estimated Worker Population Ratio (WPR) on usual status for persons of age 15 years & above during the years 2018-19, 2019-20, 2020-21, 2021-22 and 2022-23 is 47.3%, 50.9%, 52.6%, 52.9% and 56.0%, respectively. The data indicates that the WPR, indicating employment, has an increasing trend over the years.

Rozgar Mela events are being held across the country and the new appointees are inducted into various Central Ministries/ Departments/ Central Public Sector Undertakings (CPSUs)/ Autonomous Bodies including Health & Education Institutes, Public Sector Banks etc. Filling up of vacant posts in various Ministries/Departments is a continuous process. All vacant posts are being filled in a Mission Mode.

As per the Annual Report on Pay and Allowances released by Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance, the number of regular civilian employees in Central Government and Union Territory administrations were 31.91 lakh, 31.15 lakh and 30.64 lakh as on 01.03.2020, 01.03.2021 and 01.03.2022, respectively. The State Government-wise information is not maintained centrally.

Total number of candidates recommended by Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), Staff Selection Commission (SSC) and Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) for appointment in Central Government was 1,61,550 during the year 2022-23. Apart from this, SSC and RRBs have recommended 1,03,196 candidates for appointment in the 1st quarter of 2023-24.

As per the information available with Department of Public Enterprises (DPE), Ministry of Finance, the total number of regular employees working in Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) was 9.20 lakh, 8.61 lakh and 8.60 lakh during 2019-20, 2020- 21 and 2021-22, respectively.

Further, the net addition in Employees’ Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) subscriptions is an indicator of the extent of formalisation of the job market, and the coverage of social security benefits to the organized/ semi-organized sector workforce. The net addition in EPF subscribers during the period 2020-21 to 2022-23 are as follows:

Years

Net addition in EPF subscribers (all ages)

2020-21

77,08,375

2021-22

1,22,34,625

2022-23

1,38,51,689

    Source: EPFO, Payroll data

The Aatmanirbhar Bharat Rojgar Yojana (ABRY) was launched with effect from 1st October, 2020 to incentivize employers for creation of new employment and restoration of loss of employment during Covid-19 pandemic. The terminal date for registration of beneficiaries was 31.03.2022. Since inception of the scheme, till 19.01.2024, benefits have been provided to 60.49 lakhs beneficiaries under the scheme.

Employment generation coupled with improving employability is the priority of the Government. Accordingly, the Government of India has taken various steps for generating employment in the country.

Investments in Infrastructure and productive capacity have a large multiplier impact on growth and employment. The budget of 2023-24 proposed to increase capital investment outlay steeply for the third year in a row by 33 per cent to Rs 10 lakh crore, which would be 3.3 per cent of GDP. This substantial increase in recent years is central to the government’s efforts to enhance growth potential and job creation.

The Government of India has announced Aatmanirbhar Bharat package to provide stimulus to business and to mitigate the adverse impact of Covid-19. Under this package, the Government is providing fiscal stimulus of more than Rupees Twenty Seven lakh crore. This package comprises of various long term schemes/programmes/policies for making the country self-reliant and to create employment opportunities.

Government is implementing Prime Minister Street Vendor’s AtmaNirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi Scheme) since June 01, 2020 to facilitate collateral free working capital loan to street vendors to restart their businesses, which were adversely impacted during the Covid-19 pandemic. As on 31.01.2024, 83.67 lakh loans have been sanctioned under the scheme.

Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY) was launched by the Government for facilitating self-employment. Under PMMY, collateral free loans upto Rs. 10 lakh, are extended to micro/small business enterprises and to individuals to enable them to setup or expand their business activities. As on 26.01.2024, more than 46.16 crore loans were sanctioned under the scheme.

The Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes is being implemented by the Government with an outlay of Rs. 1.97 lakh crore, for a period of 5 years starting from 2021-22 which have potential for creating 60 lakh new jobs.

PM GatiShakti is a transformative approach for economic growth and sustainable development. The approach is driven by seven engines, namely, Roads, Railways, Airports, Ports, Mass Transport, Waterways and Logistics Infrastructure. This approach is powered by Clean Energy and SabkaPrayas leading to huge job and entrepreneurial opportunities for all.

The Government of India is encouraging various projects involving substantial investment and public expenditure on schemes like Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP), Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), Pt. DeenDayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY), Rural Self Employment and Training Institutes (RSETIs) and Deen Dayal Antodaya Yojana-National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM) etc. for employment generation.

To enhance the employability of the youth, the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) is implementing the “National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS)” wherein the Government reimburses 25 percent of the stipend payable to apprentices.

The Government is implementing a programme for skilling of rural youth for entrepreneurship development through Rural Self Employment and Training Institutes (RSETIs).

Besides these initiatives, various flagship programmes of the Government such as Make in India, Start-up India, Stand-up India, Digital India, Housing for All etc. are also oriented towards generating employment opportunities in the country.

All these initiatives are expected to collectively generate employment in the medium to long term through multiplier-effects.

Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP)

 Ministry of MSME is implementing Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP) since 2008-09 through Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) as nodal agency at the national level for generating employment opportunities in the country by setting up micro-enterprises in non-farm sector.

 

Under PMEGP, General Category beneficiaries can avail of Margin Money subsidy of 25 % of the project cost in rural areas and 15% in urban areas. For Special Categories such as SC/ST/OBC/minorities/women/ex-serviceman/physically handicapped /NER/Hill and Border areas, etc., the Margin Money subsidy is 35% in rural areas and 25% in urban areas.  Maximum project cost for manufacturing unit is Rs.25 lakh and for service sector is Rs.10 lakh.

 

            Since its inception upto 31.12.2021, about 7.38 lakh new micro units have been assisted utilizing margin money subsidy of Rs.17819.23 cr. generating estimated employment opportunities for about 60.60 lakh persons.

            The scheme has been successful in generating rural employment spread across various social categories. Around 80% of the PMEGP units have been set up in rural areas and about 50% of the units have been set up by SC/ST/Women entrepreneurs. Target set and achievement made under the PMEGP Scheme in the country during the last three years and current year as on 27.01.2022 is given below:

 

 Margin Money :- Rs. in lakh)

Year

Target

Achievement

No. of Units assisted

Margin Money disbursed

Estimated Employment Generated

No. of Units assisted

Margin Money disbursed

Estimated Employment Generated

2018-19

72381

206880.00

579048

73427

207000.54

587416

2019-20

79236

239644.00

633888

66653

195082.20

533224

2020-21

78625

228968.52

629000

74415

218880.15

595320

2021-22 (as on 27.01.2022)

92666

285000.00

741328

60180

185122.76

370840

 

State/UT-wise number of Women beneficiaries benefitted under PMEGP scheme during last three years and current year is given at Annexure.

 

Following steps have been taken for the effective implementation of PMEGP:

 

  1. The process of application flow, including bank sanctions and disbursement, has been made faster and transparent through introduction of on-line portal.
  2. The process of selection of entrepreneurs has been further streamlined with the discontinuation of the role of District Level Task Force Committee (DLTFC) since April, 2020, in recommending proposals/applications to financing banks. In the revised scenario, the proposals are now sent directly by Implementing Agencies to financing banks based on a Score Card model, thereby reducing the overall approval period.
  3. Organizing of Entrepreneurship Training Programme (EDP), mandatory before disbursal of loan by Banks, has been made online since October 2019 to provide expedited training and release of loan to the beneficiaries.
  4. Free two day online pre- EDP training has been introduced for interested applicants. 
  5. The list of activities has been expanded to attract entrepreneurs for setting up diverse units.
  6. Implementing Agencies like Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC), State Khadi and Village Industries Board (KVIB) and District Industries Centres (DICs) are providing handholding to applicants, through call centres, online tutorials as well as with help desks with banking and marketing experts.
  7. Sector/industry wise webinars are also being organized every Sunday involving industry experts and banks with participation of more than 300,000 prospective applicants.

 

No. of  Women beneficiaries assisted under PMEGP during last three years and Current Year (as on 27.01. 2022)

 

Sr. No.

 

Name of State/UT

 

2018-19

2019-20

2020-21

2021-22

(as on 27.01. 2022)

1

Jammu & Kashmir

2449

1861

3235

5982

2

Ladakh

0

0

85

46

3

Himachal Pradesh

528

447

431

     279

4

Punjab

703

681

737

493

5

U.T. Chandigarh

13

8

6

5

6

Haryana

547

592

622

469

7

Delhi

54

41

33

30

8

Rajasthan

524

732

663

446

9

Uttarakhand

499

467

551

288

10

Uttar Pradesh

1433

1574

2777

2193

11

Chhattisgarh

726

670

753

444

12

Madhya Pradesh

738

627

1435

1075

13

Sikkim

27

29

24

13

14

Arunachal Pradesh

99

77

38

41

15

Nagaland

535

481

310

232

16

Manipur

533

518

725

265

17

Mizoram

542

389

417

110

18

Tripura

248

219

224

136

19

Meghalaya

126

117

140

102

20

Assam

999

798

951

464

21

Bihar

861

582

665

425

22

West Bengal

810

911

907

530

23

Jharkhand

428

451

444

256

24

Odisha

1185

1160

1319

936

25

A & N Islands

51

17

42

25

26

Gujarat*

2382

2719

1841

2061

27

Maharashtra**

1965

1636

1179

984

28

Goa

30

36

18

26

29

Andhra Pradesh

1101

1113

856

811

30

Telangana

668

735

734

579

31

Karnataka

1086

1167

1492

1160

35

Lakshadweep

0

0

2

33

Kerala

1052

1003

953

612

34

Tamilnadu

2463

2841

2663

1699

35

Puducherry

29

21

13

20

GRAND TOTAL

25434

24720

27285

23237