No unemployment allowance, govt stresses on job creation

New Delhi, Nov 30 (UNI) The government today expressed its inability to provide Rs 1000 as allowance to the unemployed youth, citing economic constraints, and announced that intiatives like setting up of a National Skill Development Commission are in the pipeline to facilitate employment generation.

''To provide Rs 1000 per month to about 41 million unemployed youth of the country, we will need about Rs 50000 crore. The country is not in a position to guarantee the same,'' Labour and Employment Minister Oscar Fernandes said while winding up the discussion on a Private Members Bill moved by Mr Mohan Singh (SP) seeking a Constitutional amendment to make unemployment allowance a fundamental right.

Mr Fernandes, while elaborating on several central schemes for poverty alleviation, said the government was also not in favour of such an allowance as it would encourage ''unproductive activity''.

The Minister said besides other proposals, National Skill Development Commission is proposed to be constituted. He said the government also proposed to spend at least Rs 530 crore on developing the skills of at least one million unemployed people.

During the 11th Five Year plan there was a proposal to create at least 70 million new jobs.

Mr Singh withdrew the Bill, saying that the spirit behind moving the Bill has been fulfilled.

Archana Naik (BJD), S Sudhakar Reddy (CPI), Khiren Rijiju (BJP), Brahmanand Panda (BJD) and K S Rao (Congress) were among those who participated in the debate.

UNI