Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Labour and Employment addresses Lok Sabha Question 1213 regarding employment status in the North Eastern Region (NER). Data from the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) is used to estimate the Worker Population Ratio (WPR) for youth. Initiatives like the UNNATI scheme, Startup India, and North East Enterprise Development Scheme (NEEDS) aim to boost employment and industrialization in the NER.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Employment Data:**
* Worker Population Ratio (WPR) for youth (15-29 years) in the North Eastern Region from 2019-20 to 2023-24 is detailed in the Annexure, based on PLFS data from the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI).
* **Government Schemes and Initiatives:**
* UNNATI (Uttar Poorva Transformative Industrialization) Scheme (introduced March 9, 2024): Supports industries in the NER through:
* Capital Investment Incentive (CII)
* Capital Interest Subvention (CIS)
* Manufacturing Services linked incentive (MSLI)
* Startup India Initiative (launched January 16, 2016): Aims to build an ecosystem for innovation and startups. 2,109 entities in the North Eastern States recognized as startups by DPIIT as of January 31, 2025.
* North East Enterprise Development Scheme (NEEDS): The Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MDoNER) provides annual budgetary allocation of Rs. 300 crore to North Eastern Development Finance Corporation Ltd. (NEDFi) as an interest-free loan from 2021-22 to 2025-26.
* Employment Linked Incentive (ELI) Scheme: Approved by the Union Cabinet to support employment generation and enhance employability across all sectors, with a focus on manufacturing.
Impact Analysis:
* **Youth (15-29 years) in the North Eastern Region:**
* *Impact:* Their employment status is tracked via WPR, and they are intended to benefit from job creation through various government schemes.
* *Action Required:* To seek opportunities through the industries and startups fostered by the UNNATI scheme and Startup India initiative.
* **Industries and Businesses in the North Eastern Region:**
* *Impact:* Eligible for incentives and support under the UNNATI scheme (CII, CIS, MSLI).
* *Action Required:* Apply for benefits under the UNNATI scheme to expand operations, create jobs, and contribute to regional development.
* **Startups in the North Eastern Region:**
* *Impact:* Recognition by DPIIT under the Startup India initiative.
* *Action Required:* Leverage recognition and support to grow their businesses.
* **North Eastern Development Finance Corporation Ltd. (NEDFi):**
* *Impact:* Receives interest-free loans from MDoNER under the NEEDS scheme.
* *Action Required:* Utilize funds to provide credit access to MSMEs and microfinance sectors in the NER.
Key Entities Referenced
North Eastern Region: A geographical region of India, focus of the employment status analysis.
Periodic Labour Force Survey: Official data source on Employment and Unemployment, conducted by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.
Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation: Government ministry responsible for conducting the Periodic Labour Force Survey.
UNNATI Uttar Poorva Transformative Industrialization Scheme: A scheme introduced by the Government of India to support industries in the North Eastern Region, enhancing infrastructure and creating employment opportunities.
Startup India: An initiative launched to build a strong ecosystem for nurturing innovation, startups and encouraging investments.
Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade: A department that recognized startups in North Eastern States.
Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region: A ministry providing budgetary allocation to North Eastern Development Finance Corporation Ltd.
North East Enterprise Development Scheme: A scheme under which the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region provides interest free loan to North Eastern Development Finance Corporation Ltd.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1213
TO BE ANSWERED ON 28th JULY, 2025
EMPLOYMENT STATUS IN NORTH EASTERN REGION
1213. SHRI JOYANTA BASUMATARY:
Will the Minister of LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT be pleased to state:
(a) the details and number of skilled or unskilled youths got jobs in the
different sectors in the North Eastern Region (NER) during the last
five years;
(b) whether the Government has taken any action to set-up industries
or job oriented sectors in the NER during the said period; and
(c) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
(SUSHRI SHOBHA KARANDLAJE)
(a) to (c): The official data source on Employment and Unemployment is
Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) which is conducted by the Ministry
of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) since 2017-18.
As per the data available in latest Annual PLFS Reports, the
estimated Worker Population Ratio (WPR) for youth (15-29 years),
indicating employment on usual status during the year 2019-20 to 2023-
24 for the North Eastern Region is at Annexure.
The Government of India had introduced a new scheme UNNATI
(Uttar Poorva Transformative Industrialization Scheme) on March 9, 2024
for extending support to the industries for enhancing regional
infrastructure, create employment opportunities, and promote resilience
and prosperity in the North-East region. Under the UNNATI Scheme, the
following incentives are provided to the industrial Units:
i. Capital Investment Incentive (CII)
ii. Capital Interest Subvention (CIS)
iii. Manufacturing & Services linked incentive (MSLI)Government of India, with an intent to build a strong ecosystem for
nurturing innovation, startups and encouraging investments in the
country also launched the Startup India initiative on 16th January 2016.
For the North Eastern States, 2,109 entities have been recognized as
startups by Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade
(DPIIT) as on 31st January 2025.
Further, to facilitate credit access for the Micro, Small & Medium
Enterprises (MSME) & Micro Finance sectors in the North Eastern
Region, the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MDoNER)
has been providing annual budgetary allocation to North Eastern
Development Finance Corporation Ltd. (NEDFi), a Non-Banking Financial
Company (NBFC) under administrative control of MDoNER, in the form of
an interest free loan under the North East Enterprise Development
Scheme (NEEDS) for the period 2021-22 to 2025-26, with a total
allocation of Rs. 300 crore.
In addition, the Union Cabinet has approved the Employment
Linked Incentive (ELI) Scheme to support employment generation,
enhance employability and social security across all sectors, with
special focus on the manufacturing sector.
*****Annexure
Annexure referred to in reply of part (a) to (d) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred
Question No. 1213 due for reply on 28.07.2025.
State-Wise details of Worker Population Ratio for persons aged 15-29 years
during 2019-20 to 2023-24
Worker Population Ratio (%)
States/UTs
2019-20 2020-21 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24
40.0
Arunachal Pradesh 22.9 24.3 20.0 35.1
44.0
Assam 25.2 31.3 37.6 44.6
24.3
Manipur 21.8 17.4 18.7 26.3
53.1
Meghalaya 32.5 37.5 38.8 41.6
22.5
Mizoram 28.6 28.3 25.0 25.1
36.5
Nagaland 13.9 21.5 31.3 38.9
52.6
Sikkim 52.3 46.0 50.2 47.2
43.9
Tripura 32.9 33.2 34.2 36.4
Source: PLFS, MoSPI