November 29, 2001

        A special group has been set up by the Planning Commission to generate one crore employment opportunities during each year of the 10^th Plan. This was stated in a written reply by the Minister of State for Labour and Employment Shri Muni Lall in the Rajya Sabha today. He said that there would be no significant effect on unemployment scenario in the country due to any down sizing of the public sector. He said that out of a total of around 40 crore employed in the country in the year 2000 only around 1.9 crore were employed in Public Sector which includes Central government, State Governments, Quasi Government (Central), Quasi government (States) and Local Bodies. Shri Muni Lall said that the ninth plan focused on sectors and technology which are labour intensive in regions characterised by higher rates of unemployment and underemployment.