Question

During the Seventh Five Year Plan, a Scheme called _____ . was introduced from 1989 to solve the problem of unemployment in the rural sector.

• A. National Rural Employment Programme
• B. Rural Landless Employment Programme
• C. MNREGA
• D. Jawahar Rozgar Yojana

Hint:

The Jawahar Rozgar Yojana is significant because it laid the foundation for later employment schemes, such as MNREGA.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

The Jawahar Rozgar Yojana (JRY) was introduced during the Seventh Five Year Plan in 1989 to provide employment opportunities in rural areas, primarily for the rural poor, with a focus on public works.

Answer 2

Jawahar Rozgar Yojana (JRY) – Introduction and Purpose:
During the Seventh Five Year Plan (1985–1990), the Government of India introduced the Jawahar Rozgar Yojana (JRY) in 1989 as a major rural employment scheme aimed at addressing the chronic problem of unemployment in the rural sector.

Objectives of Jawahar Rozgar Yojana:
The primary objective of JRY was to provide gainful employment to the unemployed and underemployed rural population, especially targeting the rural poor, including Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and women.

Features of the Scheme:
- The scheme focused on generating wage employment by creating productive community assets such as roads, ponds, and irrigation canals.
- It was a demand-driven scheme where funds were released based on actual employment generated.
- The JRY encouraged active participation of local people in planning and implementation to ensure benefits reached the needy.
- It aimed to improve rural infrastructure alongside employment generation.

Impact:
JRY became one of the largest employment programs in India during that period, creating millions of person-days of employment and significantly contributing to rural development.

Conclusion:
The Jawahar Rozgar Yojana was a pioneering effort during the Seventh Five Year Plan to tackle rural unemployment and promote rural infrastructure development through wage employment.