Prime Minister Employment Program fails to reach target

KATHMANDU, August 22: The Prime Minister Employment Program launched as per the constitution provisions to create job opportunities for eligible Nepali citizens has failed to reach its target. So far, the program has not even achieved the desired result.

The program which was said to provide employment to 200,000 people across the country for 100 days has provided employment to 171,000 people across the country. Likewise, the goal to provide employment for 100 days was limited to 71 days.

According to Suman Ghimire, joint secretary at the Ministry of Labor, Employment and Social Security (MoLESS) and the national coordinator of the employment program, the program failed to achieve its targets due to the risk of COVID-19 and the lack of employment coordinators at all local governments of the country. Among the 753 targeted local governments for the program, it was implemented only in 707.

Last year, unemployed people were engaged in various job sectors with a daily salary of Rs 517, according to information released by MoLESS. Many people who were facing financial difficulties had joined the program. The ministry started the program with a budget of Rs 30 million three years ago and Rs 50 million in the second year of the program. Rs 120 million was allocated for the program in the current fiscal year.

Over 750,000 people unemployed

As many as 752,957 people across the county were registered in the unemployed category last year. Of them, 318,195 were females. Earlier, local governments were accused of distributing the budget to their cadres, when they had to provide employment to a huge number of unemployed people. People have stressed the need for establishing large-scale industries to eradicate the unemployment problem.

“We have brought 17,000 organizations into operation to provide employment across the country. It is the responsibility of everyone to stop misuse of the budget. It is said that most of the projects that are brought into operation to create employment are roads, drinking water and irrigation projects. There are as many as 116 road projects under operation,” Ghimire informed Republica.

According to the MoLESS, Sudurpaschim Province recorded the highest number of employment from the program. As many as 37,000 people were provided with employment for 75 days in the province. As many as 155,000 people are listed in the unemployed category at the province’s information center. Last year, Rs 1.35 billion was spent on salaries to the people who were employed through the program in Sudurpaschim Province alone. There were 143,00 unemployed people registered in Karnali Province in the last fiscal year.

Similarly, 28,000 people were employed for 73 days in Karnali Province. Rs 870 million was paid as salary to the employed people within the time period.

As many as 27,000 people were employed for 73 days through the program in Lumbini Province. Rs 120 million was distributed as salary inside the province. There are almost 60,000 people listed in the unemployed cattery in the province. Likewise, 14,000 people were given job opportunities in Gandaki Province for 71 days with a budget of Rs 480 million.

There are almost 100,000 unemployed people in Bagmati Province. Of them, 25,000 were given a job for 69 days through the employment program. According to the ministry, Rs 930 million was allocated to pay their salary.

Furthermore, Rs 300 million was spent on paying salaries of 15,000 people in Province 2. There are 48,000 people who are listed in the unemployed category inside the province. Likewise, 25,000 people received employment for 74 days in Province 1 through the program.