The dedicated portal for Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana (PMVBRY) has gone live with an aim to support employment generation, enhance employability and social security across all sectors, with special focus on the manufacturing sector. The Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rojgar Yojana, launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi from the ramparts of the Red Fort during his Independence Day this year, entails two-part benefits – both to the employee and the employers. On July 1, the Union Cabinet had approved the employment-linked incentive scheme. With an outlay of nearly Rs 1 Lakh crore, the scheme aims to incentivise the creation of more than 3.5 crore jobs in the country, over 2 years. One part offers a one-time incentive to first-time employees, equivalent to the average one-month wage (Basic DA), up to Rs 15,000, payable in two instalments. Employees with gross wages up to Rs 1 lakh will be eligible. Another part is for support to employers. It will help provide an incentive for the generation of additional employment in all sectors, with a special focus on the manufacturing sector. Manufacturing has long been recognised as the engine of mass employment, and India’s ambition to become a global manufacturing hub under initiatives like Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat requires precisely such policy support. The dedicated online portal adds another layer of transparency and efficiency. By streamlining registration, claims, and monitoring, it not only reduces bureaucratic hurdles but also ensures that the scheme is implemented in a time-bound and accountable manner. In a country where delays and leakages have often undermined well-intentioned schemes, this digital-first approach could prove to be the difference between promise and delivery. However, while the intent and design of PMVBRY are commendable, its success will depend on effective execution. Robust monitoring mechanisms must ensure that incentives reach the deserving. The government must also ensure that micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), which are the real engines of job creation, have easy access to the scheme. In essence, PMVBRY is more than an employment scheme—it is a social contract. It seeks to assure the youth that their aspirations will find meaningful opportunities, and signal to businesses that the government stands ready to share the responsibility of nation-building. The scheme needs to be implemented with integrity and vigour. It could indeed mark the beginning of a new chapter in India’s growth story, where economic expansion and social security walk hand in hand. |