In view to tackle the unemployment situation over the recent years, Employment generation programmes (EGPs) have emerged as important employment policy tool in India, like other developing countries. This policy envelope includes a wide range of activities intended to increase labour demand; to increase the quality of labour supply or to improve the matching of workers and jobs. Significant economic and social benefits are expected to accrue from these measures.
The major programmes that are currently in operation in India are: Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNEREGA), Swaranjyanti Gram Swarozgar Yojna (SGSY), Swaran Jyanti Shahari Rozgar Yojna (SJSRY) and Prime Ministry’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP). These programmes are playing an important role to improve the livelihood of unemployed persons of different categories. But, out of these programmes MGNEREGA has addressed the problem of overall rural unemployment in Himachal pradesh.