Unemployment incentives programs vis a vis FSB(Food Security Bill)+ NREGA

ISSUE: Are these programs limiting the incentives to work?

OR are these programs catering to the unemployment problem in India?
The issue here is on unemployment incentives that these programs may lead to and I here focus on what
these programs are guaranteeing to the nation and what could it would have led to if these programs
are not there.

resources as both development Analyzing the social, economic and ecological dimensions certainly
these programs PREVENT social anarchy and deprivations, loss of household incomes which could lead
to the less growth of economy, and ecological burden that is created by the vulnerable population on
our dwindling natural and poverty are the biggest polluter.
Before analyzing the solutions these programs have the potential to provide we need to first understand
whether unemployment is a problem of demand or supply of workers. The question of incentives to
work arises when the issue is the supply of the domestic workforce, which doesnt seem to the major
problem in India. This can be simply attributed by mere observation that our businesses offer limited
avenues for the increasing workforce of professionals willing to work added each year due to decreasing
consumer demand. Moreover, there is shortage of number of business itself that are needed in our
economy. Only at the side of highly skilled individuals that there is issue of supply. So the debate on
these programs reducing the incentive to work bear no force.
On the other hand these programs largely focuses on rural socio-economic sector. No doubt since 62%
of our workforce is employed directly in agriculture and the backwardness i.e. low per capita output
from agriculture calls for serious governmental interventions. Now the questions is why agriculture is
backward and how can we address the issue through these interventions of FSB+NREGA.
Backwardness or low productivity can be attributed to still dependence on traditional farming
techniques, marginalization of farmlands, disguised employment and lack of input-output chains in the
rural economy. Disguised employment can be understood from the fact that in a small farm where
present level of productivity is possible from a mere labor of 2 workers is employing 6 workers of a
household in the same farm. So 4 workers are not adding anything to the final output are termed as
disguised employed. Lack of input-output chains deals with crucial interlinking of farming with other
sectors of rural economy. Here inputs involves the backward linkages to agriculture, which are- land,
which needs proper land management techniques to improve productivity; water, which requires
watershed development and management; and fertilizers, which needs more investment fertilizer
industry. Output here means the forward linkages to agriculture, which are- market for both perishable

and non- perishable food items, which needs proper storage and transport infrastructure facilities to
access markets; food processing industry which is largely under developed in India.
The success of our social sector reforms through these programs involves proper linking of these with
the input-output chains which will help in integrating our rural economy, solving disguised employment
as more of rural workforce can be directed here, marginalization of land would not be a major issue and
all would lead to development of our rural sector.
Another aspect of it is its impact on social sector. The success of rural education and healthcare
programs depends on it and the vision of inclusive growth and participatory democracy can be realized.
Another issue related to rural sector development is the problem of migration to urban centers can be
addressed. Migration leads to economic burden in terms of employment and infrastructure both and
social burden with respect to increasing frequency of social crimes like rapes and dacoit in cities, which
together poses a threat to the dream of sustainable development i.e. development that balances growth
with ecology. So being a developing nation with limited resources and rising population India needs to
weave these aspects in its policies.
Lastly on a moral note if any body organ becomes vulnerable should we cut it off, or protect it by giving
it a time while simultaneously trying to improve it. Similarly we need to protect the vulnerable sections
of the society while simultaneously trying to increase avenues for its effective utilization. So the
programs that give these incentives are need of the hour and shouldnt be taken as permanent solutions
but temporary remedies for a larger objective.