With the allocation earmarked to various government schemes under the Budget, the Union government is targeting the creation of more than 21 lakh direct and indirect employment opportunities in sectors such as fisheries, tourism, food processing, textiles, and electronics manufacturing, among others.
While this figure is over 20 per cent more than the jobs target of some of these schemes under the Union budget presented in July last year.
That year, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had announced a scheme to one crore youth over five years, which was seen as a long-term push at creating employment. So far, 1. Against these, approximately 6. Under the PM Vishwakarma Yojana, a scheme that provides support to artisans and craftspeople in India, the government is targeting that more than 61 lakh artisans including women, and those from the SC, ST and OBC communities, will attain self-employment. As per the Outcome Budget document, the maximum jobs target is for the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana, which is aiming to employ 11 lakh people.
Incidentally, the jobs target for this scheme was exactly the same in Second in the list is the Prime Minister Employment Generation Programme, which has a target of creating employment opportunities for 5.
With an eye on improving the industrial ecosystem in the North East, the government is aiming to complete 25 industrial infrastructure projects in the region, and is targeting to create 1. In her Budget speech, Finance Minister Nirmala also said that a modified UDAN scheme will be launched to enhance regional connectivity to new destinations and carry 4 crore passengers in the next 10 years. The scheme will also support helipads and smaller airports in hilly, aspirational, and North East region districts.
