Christians lag behind Hindus, Muslims in employment

New Delhi, May 3 (UNI) The unemployment rate among Christians was higher than among Hindus and Muslims, Minister for Minority Affairs A R Antulay said today.

The figures on joblessness among Christians are given in the Report No 521 of the National Sample Survey (NSS) 61st round, and the details are available on the web site of the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, he said replying to a question in the Rajya Sabha.

Asked whether Government have any plan to offer special measures to generate employment among the tribal Christians in the States of Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Orissa, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Rajasthan, the Minister said the new 15-Point Programme for the Welfare of Minorities envisaged earmarking of 15 per cent of outlay for minorities, including tribal Christians.

He said three schemes were directly related to employment generation, ie Swarnjayanti Gram Swarojgar Yojna (SGSY), Swarn Jayanti Shahari Rojgar Yojana (SJSRY) and Sampoorna Grameen Rozgar Yojana (SGRY).

Under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme (NREGP), a total of 80 districts covered are in these six States.

UNI