Union Cabinet approves Atmanirbhar Bharat Rojgar Yojana at Rs 1,584 crore expenditure

Union Cabinet has approved Atmanirbhar Bharat Rojgar Yojana at an expenditure of Rs 1,584 crore for the current financial year. An amount of Rs 20,810 crore has been approved for the entire Scheme period 2020-2023.

Labour and Employment Minister Santosh Gangwar said, this scheme will benefit around 58.5 lakh employees. He said, under the scheme, the government will provide subsidy for two years in respect of new employees engaged on or after October 1, 2020, and up to June 30, 2021.

Mr Gangwar in a tweet today said, "A new Scheme "Atmanirbhar Bharat Rozgar Yojana" is being launched to incentivize the creation of new employment opportunities during the COVID recovery phase. #AatmaNirbharBharat3"

The government will pay both 12 per cent employees' contribution and 12 per cent employers' contribution that is 24 per cent of wages towards EPF in respect of new employees in establishments employing up to 1,000 employees. EPFO will credit the contribution in Aadhaar seeded account of members in an electronic manner.

The Cabinet also approved setting up of public Wi-Fi networks to provide public Wi-Fi service through Public Data Offices without levy of any License Fee. Communication and IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said, the Public Wi-Fi Access Network Interface will be known as PM-WANI.

Mr Prasad in a tweet said, "To improve mobile services, support Digital India initiatives and tourism, Cabinet has approved Submarine Optical Fibre cable Connectivity between mainland Kochi and Lakshadweep Islands. 1772 km of submarine cable will be laid in next 1000 days."

He said, it will promote the growth of public Wi-Fi networks in the country and it will unleash a massive wi-fi revolution in the country. Mr Prasad said, the Cabinet also cleared the provision of submarine optical fibre cable connectivity between the mainland (Kochi) and Lakshadweep Islands. He said, it will cost Rs 1,072 crore.

The Cabinet also approved Universal Service Obligation Fund Scheme for providing mobile coverage in Arunachal Pradesh and two districts of Assam under the Comprehensive Telecom Development Plan for North Eastern Region. This project will provide mobile coverage to 2,374 uncovered villages at an estimated cost of implementation of about Rs 2,029 crore including operational expenses for five years. The project is targeted to be completed by December 2022.