Question

The Employment Assurance Scheme envisages financial assistance to rural areas for guaranteeing employment to at least: 

(a) 50 percent of the men and women seeking jobs in rural areas 

(b) 50 percent of the men seeking jobs in rural areas 

(c) one man and one woman in a rural family living below the poverty line

(d) one person in a rural landless household living below the poverty line

Answer 1

(c) Employment Assurance Scheme was launched on 2^nd October, 1993 for implementation in 1778 identified backward blocks of different States. Later, the scheme was extended to the remaining blocks of the country in a phased manner. At present, the scheme is being implement in all the rural blocks of the country. The programme has been restructured from 1.4.99. The primary objective of the EAS is to provide gainful employment during the lean agricultural season to all able bodied adults in rural areas who are in need and desirous of work, but cannot find work. The secondary objective is the creation of community, social and economic assets for sustained employment and development. Internal debt comprises loans raised in the open markets. It also includes borrowings through treasury bills issued to State Government.