Aatmanirbhar Bharat Rozgar Yojana

Aatmanirbhar Bharat Rozgar Yojana

The Aatmanirbhar Bharat Rozgar Yojana (ABRY) was launched on October 1, 2020, by the Government of India as a measure to stimulate job creation and aid economic recovery during the COVID-19 pandemic. The scheme has proven to be a significant employment-generation initiative, surpassing its original targets.

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Objectives and Key Features

1. Aim:
   • To generate new employment opportunities.
   • To provide financial assistance to employers to encourage hiring, especially of those who lost their jobs due to the pandemic.
2. Key Features:
   • Financial Assistance:
     • Covers employee and employer contributions (24% of wages) for businesses with up to 1,000 employees under the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO).
     • For larger firms (with over 1,000 employees), the scheme covers only the employee’s share (12% of wages).
   • Eligibility:
     • New hires after October 1, 2020.
     • Employees earning less than ₹15,000 per month.
   • Implementation: The scheme is managed by the EPFO, ensuring smooth enrollment and contribution disbursement.

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Achievements

1. Exceeding Targets:
   • By July 31, 2023, the scheme enrolled 7.58 million new employees, surpassing its initial targets.
2. Revitalizing the Job Market:
   • ABRY played a critical role in reviving employment opportunities during and after the pandemic.
   • It supported both small and large businesses in retaining and hiring employees.

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Significance

• Economic Recovery: Contributed significantly to the economic recovery by addressing unemployment and ensuring income security for workers.
• Support for Businesses: Reduced financial burdens on employers, encouraging them to hire more employees.
• Social Security Expansion: Helped expand the reach of social security benefits through EPF contributions for millions of employees.

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Other Government Initiatives for Employment Generation

1. Support for Marginalized Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise (SMILE):
   • Focuses on the rehabilitation and support of marginalized groups, including transgender persons and beggars, through skill development and entrepreneurship support.
2. PM-DAKSH (Pradhan Mantri Dakshta Aur Kushalta Sampann Hitgrahi):
   • Offers skill development training to SCs, STs, OBCs, and economically backward classes to improve their employability.
3. Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA):
   • Provides guaranteed wage employment to rural households for at least 100 days per year.
4. Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY):
   • Aims at enhancing employable skills through short-term training and certification programs.
5. Start-Up India Scheme:
   • Promotes entrepreneurship and job creation by offering support to startups through financial assistance, tax benefits, and infrastructure development.
6. Rozgar Mela:
   • A government-led recruitment drive aimed at filling vacancies across public sector organizations and creating opportunities for the youth.

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Key Takeaways
The Aatmanirbhar Bharat Rozgar Yojana (ABRY) has demonstrated its effectiveness in addressing the challenges of unemployment and aiding the recovery of businesses during a critical period. Alongside other government initiatives, it reflects a concerted effort to boost employment generation, provide income security, and foster economic resilience in India.

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