Initiatives Taken by the Government to Tackle Unemployment

 Initiatives Taken by the Government to Tackle Unemployment 

Over the years, government of India has taken several steps to reduce the problem of unemployment in the economy. Some of these initiatives are: 

1. Integrated Rural Development Programme (IRDP) : Since the introduction of the first five year plan, rural development has been integral to all development initiatives. From 1970s, the government started focusing on development of targeted areas, to ensure development of particular sectors and specific population within that particular regional area. IRDP was an initiative launched by the government of India as a part of regional planning in 1978 during the fifth five year plan, it’s primary aim was to provide employment opportunities to the poor families and improve the living standard of people by enhancing their skill set. It also aimed at providing necessary subsidies and loans to families belonging to below poverty line to give them the opportunity of self- employment. When we say integrated rural development, it includes within it agriculture, irrigation, education, manufacturing and cottage industries, infrastructure etc. 

2. National Scheme of Training of Rural Youth for Self Employment (TRYSEM) : This initiative aimed at providing training and technical knowledge and skills to individuals belonging to families from below poverty line, from the age group 18- 35 years to enable them to take up self employment in various sectors like agriculture, industry and services. The training is not only limited to technical know how but also focuses on enhancement of motivation, interpersonal skills and positive attitude. 

3. Jawahar Rozgar Yojana (JRY) : Under the Wage Employment Programmes, two programmes i.e. National Rural Employment Programme and Rural Landless Employment Guarantee Programme were merged together in 1989 to form Jawahar Rozgar Yojana. This Yojana was introduced during the end of the seventh five year plan. The objective of the initiative was to generate employment opportunities for individuals belonging to poor families, mainly families below poverty line through creation of rural economic infrastructure, community and social assets with the aim to improve their standard of living. The main target was to provide 90- 100 days employment per person.
   
   

4. Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) : This act was launched in 2005 and under this initiative, government guaranteed to provide 150 days of employment to individuals coming from poor families who are willing to do unskilled labour work. It further states that, an individual in entitled Rs. 202 per day if the government is unable to provide employment within 15 days. 

5. National Food for Work Programme (NFWP) : It is a centre sponsored scheme, which provides employment opportunities to individuals willing to do unskilled labor. The labourers under this scheme are paid partly in cash and partly with food. The food grains are provided to the state governments free of cost to enforce this scheme. 

6. Stand-Up India Scheme : This scheme launched by the Government of India in 2016 aims to promote loan per branch for at least one woman entrepreneur and one SC/ST candidates for their first entrepreneurial venture. This venture may be in manufacturing, services or the agri-allied activities, In case of partnership, at least 51% of the shareholding should be help by either an SC/ST candidate or a woman entrepreneur. This is a composite scheme and hence, the loaned amount can be used as both term loan and working capital and the amount of loan may vary from 10 Lakh to 1 Crore.