Employment opportunities in the North Eastern Region (NER)

Posted On: 20 JUL 2023 3:15PM by PIB Delhi

The Government has taken various initiatives to improve employment opportunities including in the North East Region (NER). These include the interlinking of the portals of ‘Udyam’, ‘e-Shram’ portals, National Career Service (NCS), and the Aatamanirbhar Skilled Employee-Employer Mapping (ASEEM) for credit facilitation, skilling and recruitment to enhance entrepreneurial opportunities. 25 NCS centres for scheduled castes (SC) and scheduled tribes (ST) have been established, out of which 06 are in NER in addition to the 02 centres for the differently abled. NCS has also partnered with Microsoft and launched ‘DigiSaksham’, a joint digital skills initiative for employability through digital skills. Ministry of Labour & Employment (ML&E) has also launched the ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat Rojgar Yojana’ (ARBY), to generate employment and boost the economy.

The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) is implementing various short term skilling programmes. The Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana NER has skilled 74,702 during the year 2021-22 & 2022-23. The Jan Shikshan Sansthan scheme, which targets non-literates, neo-literates and those with rudimentary level of education has skilled 45,861 in 2021-22 & 2022-23. The National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme, which promotes apprenticeship training, has trained 25,228 apprentices in 2021-22 & 2022-23 in NER. MSDE also delivers long term skilling under the Craftsman Training Scheme (CTS) through Industrial Training Institutes to provide skilled workforce to the industry as well as self-employment of youth.  About 15,405 candidates have been enrolled and imparted skills in NER under CTS during the year 2021-22 & 2022-23.

The Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY) launched by the Government provides collateral free loans upto Rs. 10 lakh to micro/small business enterprises and to individuals to enable them to setup or expand their business activities. As on 24.02.2023, the disbursed amount is Rs.69,446 crores (approx) in NER.

The Ministry of Rural Development implements schemes, including in the NER, for creating employment and supporting livelihoods. In the NER, under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, more than 71 lakh  individuals were provided employment during 2021-22 and more than 63 lakh in 2022-23.  Under the Deen Dayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission, total households mobilized were 3,50,992 during 2021-22 and 4,45,718 during 2022-23 in NER. Under the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana, total candidates placed were 43,569 in 2021-22 and 53,505 in 2022-23 in NER. Under the National Social Assistance Programme, total beneficiaries are above 12 lakh during 2021-22 and above 11 lakh  during 2022-23 in NER. Under the Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme during 2021-22, employment was provided to 70,584 in NER. Under the Rural Self Employment Training Institutes scheme, 12,893 candidates were placed till February, 2023 in FY 2022-23 in the NER.

The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs is implementing the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Urban Livelihoods Mission to reduce poverty and vulnerability of urban poor households on a sustainable basis. Under this scheme, 23519 skilled candidates have been placed and about 8653 beneficiaries have been assisted for setting up individual/Group micro enterprises in the NER as on February, 2023.

The Prime Minister’s Development Initiative for North East Region (PM-DevINE) Scheme implemented by the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MDoNER) has enabled livelihood activities for youth and women. Two projects i.e.  North-East Centre for Technology Application and Research (NECTAR) Livelihood Improvement Project (Multi-State)- Utilization of Banana Pseudo Stem for Value added products at a cost of Rs. 67 crores and Promoting scientific organic Agriculture in North East India (Multi State) at a cost of Rs. 44.99 crores has been approved. The North East Handicrafts and Handlooms Corporation Ltd. under MDoNER provide handholding support to the artisans and weavers of the NER by skilling them and creating market linkages to enable them to continue their traditional skills and provide them gainful employment.

This information was given by Union Minister for Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region, Shri G. Kishan Reddy in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.

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