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(GIST OF KURUKSHETRA) Inclusive Human Resource Development & Social Justice: Budget Perspective

(SEPTEMBER-2024)

Inclusive Human Resource Development & Social Justice: Budget Perspective

Context:

The concept of Human Resource Development is more about expansion of freedom, enhancement of capabilities, providing equal opportunities to all and ensuring a long, healthy and prosperous life. It goes beyond the notion of economic growth with wealth maximization of the economy.

Concept of Inclusive Human Resource Development

Inclusive Human Resource Development is an encompassing concept which aims to remove the barriers and include all citizens of the country to enhance their capacity and capabilities. Article 14-18 of the Indian constitution provides the right to equality as fundamental right to all the citizens of India.
The scope of this right scales from political, social and economic measures. Inclusive Human Resource Development may be a logical extension and ultimate end to this right in order to unify the potential and productivity of all the people in the country. It may result into accelerated economic trajectory towards becoming the third largest economy of the world.

Important issues that are needed to be addressed to achieve the inclusive Human Resource Development are:-

Poverty
Unemployment
Rural Infrastructure
Financial Inclusion
Balanced regional development
Gender equality
Basic Human Resources like sanitation, drinking water, housing etc.
Government has launched several programs and policies for Inclusive Human Resource Development.

Few examples are as below:

MNREGA
Jan Dhan Yojna
Jan Man Yojna
Atal Pension Yojna
Skill India Mission
PM Young Achievers Scholarship Award Scheme for Vibrant India (PM YASASVI) for OBCs, EBCs and DNTs
Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana
Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana
Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana
Sukanya Samridhi Yojana
Mission Shakti (Mission for Protection and
Empowerment for Women)
Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana
Jan AushadhiYojana (JAY)
Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojana y Nai Manzil Scheme for minority students etc.

Scheme related to ensure Human Resource Development in Union Budget 2024-25:

1. Education

According to Nelson Mandela, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world”. Several initiatives have been taken to ensure the reach of quality education to all. The allocation of funds to School Education & Literacy for the FY 2024-25 stands at Rs. 73,498 crore, which is approx. 19.56 percent, increase from previous year.

Education Loans- For helping our youth who have not been eligible for any benefit under Government schemes and policies, the Government has announced a financial support for loans up to Rs. 10 lakh for higher education in domestic institutions. E-vouchers for this purpose will be given directly to 1 lakh students every year for annual interest subvention of 3 percent of the loan amount.
Internship Opportunities- This scheme provides internship opportunities in 500 top companies to 1 crore youth in 5 years. Allowance of Rs. 5,000 per month along with a one-time assistance of Rs. 6,000 through the CSR funds will also be provided.
Samagra Shikhsa Abhiyan- As per vision of National Education Policy 2020, The Ministry of Education, GoI, has revamped Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan Scheme towards creating new education structure, pedagogy, assessment pattern, regulation and governance that is aligned with the aspirational goals of 21st century education, including Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG4), while building upon India’s traditions and value systems.
PM SHRI Scheme. Scheme aims to implement the vision of NEP 2020 in reality. The scheme emphasises on the emergence of 14500 exemplar schools that will provide high-quality education in an equitable, inclusive and joyful environment that takes care of the diverse background, multilingual needs and different academic abilities of children and makes them active participants in their own learning process.
Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (PM-USHA)-This scheme provides funds to States/UTs institutions, with the vision to attain higher levels of access, equity, and excellence in the State higher education system for developing Quality Teaching & Learning processes with greater efficiency, transparency, accountability, and responsiveness.

2. Skill Development

Skill development is one of the key components of Human Resource Development to realise the goal of Viksit Bharat. The vision of Government under its Skill India is to create skilled and productive workforce that can contribute to the growth and development of the Indian economy.

Skilling programme- A new centrally sponsored scheme has been announced for skilling in collaboration with State Governments and Industry as Skill generation is an important pillar for Inclusive Human Resource Development. Twenty lakh youth are planned to be skilled over a period of 5-years and one thousand Industrial Training Institutes are to be upgraded in hub & spoke arrangements with outcome based orientation. Course content and design planned to be aligned with the skill needs of industry, and new courses shall be introduced to fulfil the emerging needs.
Skilling Loans- Government has announced that Model Skill Loan Scheme to be revised in order to facilitate loans up to Rs. 7.5 lakh with a guarantee via Government promoted Fund. This is a measure which is expected to help 25,000 students every year.

3. Employment Generation

Employment generation is crucial so that the skilled workforce can convert resources towards economic growth. This Union Budget has envisaged for implementing three schemes for ‘Employment Linked Incentive’, as part of the Prime Minister’s package. These will be based on enrolment in the EPFO (Employee’s Provident Fund Organisation) and focus on recognition of first-time employees, and support to employees and employers.

Scheme A: First Timers. This scheme aims to provide one-month wage to all the persons who are newly entering into the workforce under all formal sectors. The direct benefit transfer of one-month salary shall be in 3 instalments to first-time employees, as registered in the EPFO, and it will be up to Rs. 15,000. Government has also set the eligibility limit that will be a salary of Rs. 1 lakh per month. The scheme is expected to benefit 210 lakh youth.
Scheme B: Job Creation in manufacturing. This scheme aims to incentivize additional employment in the manufacturing sector, linked to the employment of first-time employees. An incentive under this is to be provided at specified scale directly both to the employee and the employer with respect to their EPFO contribution in the first four years of employment. The scheme is expected to benefit thirty lakh youth entering employment, and their employers.
Scheme C: Support to employers. This employer-focussed scheme will cover additional employment in all sectors. All additional employment within a salary of Rs. one lakh per month is to be counted. The government will reimburse to employers up to Rs. 3000 per month for two years towards their EPFO contribution for each additional employee. The scheme is expected to incentivize additional employment of 50 lakh persons.

4. Innovation & Research

The Union Budget 2024-25 has a great focus on innovation, research, and development as one of the key drivers for India’s journey in becoming a developed nation. Budget outlines the initiatives such as setting up of the Anusandhan National Research Foundation and investments in private sector-driven research and other investment in order to expand Space economy and for also to advance our agricultural and nuclear energy research.
All of these measures project Government planning to create a healthy ecosystem of innovation, and to position India as a global leader in technology and sustainable development.

5. Women-led development

In the Union Budget 2024, Government has reflected a dedicated and concrete effort for women-led development. There is substantial funds allocation and new initiatives such as ‘Vatsalya’ pension scheme has been introduced, which shall be a contributory pension scheme with contributions from parents & guardians.

Scheme related to ensure Social Justice

a. Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Unnat Gram Abhiyan: For improving the socio-economic condition of tribal communities, the Government will launch the Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Unnat Gram Abhiyan by adopting saturation coverage for tribal families in tribal-majority villages and aspirational districts. This will cover 63,000 villages benefitting five crores tribal people.

b. Purvodaya Schemes - Budget focuses on the all-round development of the eastern region of the country covering Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odissa and Andhra Pradesh. This aims to cover Human Resource Development, infrastructure, and generation of economic opportunities to make the region an engine to attain Viksit Bharat.

Conclusion

Inclusive Human Resource Development and Social Justice are an integral part of growth in all sectors of economy. Union Budget 2024-25 plans to take up comprehensive reform on issues related to health, education, skill development, employment generation and Social Justice in big way. Budget 2024 shines with an approach of transformation in realising the vision of ‘Viksit Bharat’. It has put its thrust on inclusive growth by keeping all sections of the Society-women, poor, youth and farmers in order to be a developed, self-reliant and resilient nation. Inclusive Human Resource Development and Social justice will definitely spearhead the efforts towards achieving the goal of ‘Viksit Bharat’ by 2047.