If some one makes an effort to add the number of new jobs supposed to be created by the economic policies of successive governments, planners and industry associations, almost all Indians have found a well paid job. But the reality is rising unemployment and implementation of NREGA to save poor from falling into hunger and disease.
Undeterred by repeated failure of planners to create much publicized jobs, the labour ministry of India has once again claimed that smart recovery in the farm sector and the impact on the rural economy will result in 58 million additional jobs by the end of year 2011.
Nevertheless the government stopped short of promising zero unemployment but it promised a substantial control over it.
Even though agriculture was not among the sectors identified by the central government for incremental employment during the 11th Plan, the labour ministry says buoyancy in the sector will be beneficial as it employs two-thirds of the labour force, directly or indirectly.
India's farm sector grew 2.5 percent in the first quarter and 4.4 percent in the second quarter of this fiscal, as opposed to a mere 1.9 percent and 0.9 percent, respectively, during two corresponding quarters last fiscal.
The gross domestic product (GDP) climbed 8.9 percent each in the first two quarters.
The 10th Five Year Plan target of creating 50 million additional jobs fell short by three million due to a shortfall in fresh employment in sectors like manufacturing, transport, tourism and agriculture, informed government.
As per the report on the employment and unemployment survey released by the labour ministry in October, the unemployment rate in India was 9.4 percent last fiscal. In the rural areas the unemployment rate was 10.1 percent and in the urban areas 7.3 percent.
The ministry has put together a working draft of a new employment policy, which aims at creating skilled manpower according to industry needs, which has also been the main demand of the private sector. The emphasis will primarily be on employment generation in tandem with flexible framework of training.
There are plans to modernize employment exchanges so that all vital information is easily accessible.
