How Low Employment Generation Is Hampering India’s Growth

Low employment generation is a nation problem and it is hampering India’s growth, NITI Aayog Vice Chairman Arvind Panagariya has said, calling for urgent remedial measures.

India should focus on employment generation and education for the development of the country, he said while addressing the Odisha Vikash Conclave in Bhubaneswar on Monday.

Panagariya said the true empowerment of citizens can be achieved only when their incomes rise for which, both the centre and the states must work together.

Citing the instance of Odisha, he said while the contribution of agriculture sector to Gross State Domestic Product  (GSDP) was 18-20 per cent, about 56 per cent people are employed in the sector.

“Whereas, industry sector in Odisha does better that other states. The contribution of the sector was 27-28 per cent to GSDP. But, only 11 per cent of the workforce are employed in Odisha. This is a national problem,” he said.

Panagariya said the income level of people must be increased to accelerate higher growth in the country.

The increase in people’s income allows them to access various services, he added.

Noting that the poverty level is still high in Odisha, he said the state has achieved tremendous progress in bringing down poverty in last decade.

Speaking at the event, Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan highlighted the initiatives taken by the Narendra Modi government for the development of the country.

With inputs from IANS.