Government promoting labour intensive manufacturing process: Minister

NEW DELHI: The government was promoting labour intensive manufacturing process and increasing employment opportunities by encouraging tourism and agro-based industries, Rajya Sabha was informed today.

The government was also reviewing apprenticeship scheme to enlarge participation of small and medium industries so as to enhance employability of youth in the country, Union Labour and Employment minister Narendra Singh Tomar said in a written reply in Rajya Sabha.

He said the 12th Five Year Plan projects five crore new work opportunities to be generated in the non-farm sector and skill certification to equivalent numbers.

The National Skill Development Agency (NSDA) has been set up to coordinate action among central ministries in this connect.

"It has also been decided to use at least 10 per cent of the Special Central Assistance to Tribal Sub Plan, multi-sectoral development programme funds and five per cent of Border Area Development Programme funds for skill development and enhancing employability of youth," Tomar said.

He reiterated that the government has also decided to convert Employment Exchanges into career centres in collaboration of state governments for providing counselling services to students and job seekers along with other employment related assistance.

"The government is also reviewing apprenticeship scheme to enlarge participation of small and medium industries so as to enhance employability of youth in the country," he said.

He added that as per NSSO survey, the unemployment rate in 2011-12 was five per cent for rural males while it was 4.8 per cent for rural females.

Similarly, he said that the unemployment rate for urban male in 2011-12 was 8.1 per cent while for urban females, it was 13.1 per cent.