A recent development has placed Maharashtra at the top of the list of states with the highest number of beneficiaries under the Atmanirbhar Bharat Rojgar Yojana (ABRY). This is closely followed by Tamil Nadu and Gujarat, but it’s clear that Maharashtra is leading the pack.
About the Atmanirbhar Bharat Rojgar Yojana (ABRY)
Introduced in November 2020 as part of the Atmanirbhar Bharat Package 3.0, the objective of the ABRY was to stimulate employment in the formal sector. It also aimed to incentivize new job creation during the recovery period from the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Government’s Contribution
Under this scheme, the government provides subsidies for the provident fund contributions made when adding new employees to establishments associated with the Employees’ Provident Fund Organization (EPFO). The organizations with up to 1,000 employees will receive both employee’s (12% of wages) and employer’s contributions (12% of wages), totalling 24% of wages for two years. On the other hand, employers with more than 1,000 employees will get only the employee’s contribution of 12% for two years. The subsidy amount under this initiative will be credited upfront only in Aadhaar-seeded EPFO accounts (UAN) of new employees.
Eligibility Criteria for Establishments
To be eligible for these benefits, establishments must be registered with EPFO and they must add new employees compared to the reference base of employees as in September 2020. Specifically, establishments with up to 50 employees are required to add a minimum of two new employees. However, those with more than 50 employees must add at least five new employees.
Target Beneficiaries
The scheme targets any new employee joining an EPFO-registered establishment on monthly wages less than Rs. 15,000. It also targets those who left their job between the 1st of March and the 30th of September 2020 and were again employed on or after the 1st of October 2020.
Other Employment-Related Initiatives
In addition to the ABRY, there have been other initiatives focused on employment like the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana, the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, the Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY), the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Urban Livelihoods Mission, and the Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS).
These initiatives aim to support employment opportunities, enhance skills, and provide a safety net for the poor and marginalized in both rural and urban areas. All told, these schemes form a comprehensive approach to alleviate poverty and boost employment across the nation.