ABSTRACT
Economic policies have placed over-reliance on market forces and neglected the creation of jobs. A large proportion of agricultural labour families are impoverished and in perpetual debt. Employment growth rates have been in decline. Female work participation rates are extremely low. There has also been a steep decline in traditional livelihoods. Employment opportunities in agriculture are limited; hence, there is a need to look at creating livelihoods and jobs outside agriculture and to provide avenues for migrant labour. A new comprehensive approach is urgent and imperative that supports impoverished families, improves migrant labour conditions, mitigates agricultural risk, enables women’s work, supports tiny businesses, and creates livelihood opportunities. There are opportunities for direct job creation by the government and the need to widen the scope of MGNREGA. The promotion of labour-intensive industries in carefully selected urban clusters has to become a vital component of this multi-pronged approach.
