A tiny fraction of Nagaland’s unconfirmed unemployed-youth population may be in for a respite thanks to an employment scheme of the Government of India, the Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP). Nagaland’s dubious reputation as a data-hunter’s nightmare has not helped the matter. There are no hard data to confirm the number of unemployed youths in this picturesque but often volatile North Eastern state.
Nonetheless, figures from 42,000 to 55,000 are regularly claimed, courtesy the state’s Unemployment Exchange’s registry. Out of this, a number of unemployed youths as ‘microscopic’ as 1, 924 may be benefiting from PMEGP funds.
It is learned that the Government of India has been allocating funds to Nagaland under the PMEGP scheme to these ‘unemployed beneficiaries’ for whom employment opportunities were created. This year, the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises is known to have allocated Rs. 714.16 Lakhs to Nagaland for the year 2010-2011 for the stated purpose.
In 2008-09, according to the ministry’s list showing details concerning the scheme for all the states in the country, Nagaland utilized Rs. 9.62 lakhs. Then in 2009-10, the state utilized Rs. 33.95 Lakhs. This information was given by the Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Dinsha Patel, in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha yesterday.
Further, according to another list, the ministry estimated employment opportunities created for 286 persons in Nagaland under PMEGP for year 2009-2010 while in 2008-2009 a starkly insignificant 50 unemployed persons from the state had a chance at employment under the scheme.
Further, during year 2010-2011 the number increased to a comparatively large 1, 924 persons for whom ‘employment opportunities were created’ under the scheme. This information was given by the Union Cabinet Minister for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Virbhadra Singh, in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha recently. This information from the ministry was obtained by this daily recently. The list details the funds and number of persons for whom ‘employment was created’ though the PMEGP.
Union Minister of Labor and Employment Mallikarjun Kharge also informed the Rajya Sabha that reliable estimates of employment and unemployment are obtained through labor force surveys. A 2009-10 survey, the latest, estimated the number of unemployed persons in the country at 9.50 million during 2009-10.
He also said in the Lok Sabha that the total number of youth job-seekers in the age group of 15-29 years registered with employment exchanges till December 2008 was 2.70 crore. All these registered individuals are not necessarily “unemployed”, he said. Candidates for the PMEGP are to meet a number of criteria. Only one person from a family, and aged 18 years or above, is eligible. His fixed capital investment should not exceed Rs.1 lakh per worker employed in areas other than hilly areas (Rs. 1.5 lakh in hilly areas).
To set up projects costing above Rs.10 lakh in the manufacturing sector and above Rs.5 lakh in the business/services sector, the beneficiaries should possess at least VIII standard pass educational qualification. Assistance under the scheme is available only for new projects sanctioned specifically under the PMEGP. The beneficiary is required to contribute 10% of the project cost as own contribution. The percentage for certain weaker-sections, viz., Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Women, Ex-servicemen etc., is 5 %.
PMEGP was launched in the year 2008 by merging the then Prime Minister’s Rojgar Yojana and Rural Employment Generation Programme schemes with a higher level of subsidy than the latter two’s. Under PMEGP, the beneficiary can directly approach bank/financial institution with a project proposal or it can be sponsored by KVIC/KVIBs/ DIC/Panchayat Karyalayas etc.
It is learned that the Government of India has been allocating funds to Nagaland under the PMEGP scheme to these ‘unemployed beneficiaries’ for whom employment opportunities were created. This year, the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises is known to have allocated Rs. 714.16 Lakhs to Nagaland for the year 2010-2011 for the stated purpose.
In 2008-09, according to the ministry’s list showing details concerning the scheme for all the states in the country, Nagaland utilized Rs. 9.62 lakhs. Then in 2009-10, the state utilized Rs. 33.95 Lakhs. This information was given by the Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Dinsha Patel, in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha yesterday.
Further, according to another list, the ministry estimated employment opportunities created for 286 persons in Nagaland under PMEGP for year 2009-2010 while in 2008-2009 a starkly insignificant 50 unemployed persons from the state had a chance at employment under the scheme.
Further, during year 2010-2011 the number increased to a comparatively large 1, 924 persons for whom ‘employment opportunities were created’ under the scheme. This information was given by the Union Cabinet Minister for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Virbhadra Singh, in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha recently. This information from the ministry was obtained by this daily recently. The list details the funds and number of persons for whom ‘employment was created’ though the PMEGP.
Union Minister of Labor and Employment Mallikarjun Kharge also informed the Rajya Sabha that reliable estimates of employment and unemployment are obtained through labor force surveys. A 2009-10 survey, the latest, estimated the number of unemployed persons in the country at 9.50 million during 2009-10.
He also said in the Lok Sabha that the total number of youth job-seekers in the age group of 15-29 years registered with employment exchanges till December 2008 was 2.70 crore. All these registered individuals are not necessarily “unemployed”, he said. Candidates for the PMEGP are to meet a number of criteria. Only one person from a family, and aged 18 years or above, is eligible. His fixed capital investment should not exceed Rs.1 lakh per worker employed in areas other than hilly areas (Rs. 1.5 lakh in hilly areas).
To set up projects costing above Rs.10 lakh in the manufacturing sector and above Rs.5 lakh in the business/services sector, the beneficiaries should possess at least VIII standard pass educational qualification. Assistance under the scheme is available only for new projects sanctioned specifically under the PMEGP. The beneficiary is required to contribute 10% of the project cost as own contribution. The percentage for certain weaker-sections, viz., Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Women, Ex-servicemen etc., is 5 %.
PMEGP was launched in the year 2008 by merging the then Prime Minister’s Rojgar Yojana and Rural Employment Generation Programme schemes with a higher level of subsidy than the latter two’s. Under PMEGP, the beneficiary can directly approach bank/financial institution with a project proposal or it can be sponsored by KVIC/KVIBs/ DIC/Panchayat Karyalayas etc.
Morung Express News
