Rural non-farm sector in Punjab: review of Govt. programs and policies

For the effective planning of human resources, it is essential to understand the regional patterns of employment of different kinds. In this regard the study of rural non-farm sector is of much significance. In rural areas agriculture alone cannot be considered as ultimate solution to the problem of unemployment. The work force in these areas is increasingly getting attracted to non-agricultural sector also termed as non-farm sector. Non-farm sector includes all economic activities in rural areas except agriculture, livestock, fishing and hunting. The aim of the present study is to analyze the spatial pattern of rural non-farm employment in Punjab and to review the various govt. policies and programs on promoting such types employment. In this study the district wise data of Punjab has been taken from the census of India, 2011. It has been found that district Mansa (39.5 percent) has lowest share in this regard where as district Mohali (82.3 percent) has maximum proportion of non-farm employment. For this trend, several schemes to promote the non-farm sector, mostly initiated by Government of India have been looked into. In the development agenda for non-agricultural activities the labour intensive activities are at the prime focus of the policies and programs. There are schemes for creating entrepreneurship through subsidized loans (IRDP, SGSY, PMRY), schemes to provide skills (TRYSEM, ITIs), and schemes to strengthen the gender component (DWCRA, RMK). Many of these self-employment schemes have now been merged as SGSY, which is the latest avatar of IRDP. Then there are schemes to provide wage-employment (JRY, EAS, Food for Work, SJRY) on rural works, programmes to boost the marketing of rural products, thus indirectly helping the non-farm, employment and incomes.