Introduction
India has made significant progress towards achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8, which focuses on promoting sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all. The country has implemented various policies and programs to create employment opportunities, improve working conditions, and support entrepreneurship.
Government’s initiative
One of the main initiatives taken by India to achieve SDG 8 is the Make in India campaign launched by the government in 2014. This program aims to promote manufacturing in the country and attract foreign investment. It is aimed at boosting the country’s economy and creating employment opportunities for its citizens. Through this initiative, the government has been able to create a favorable environment for businesses, which has resulted in the growth of the manufacturing sector.
Another important initiative taken by the Indian government to achieve SDG 8 is the Skill India program. This program aims to train and skill the country’s youth to make them employable in various sectors. The program offers vocational training to young people in various fields, including construction, agriculture, and healthcare. The government has set up several skill development centers across the country to provide training to the youth. The program has been successful in providing employment opportunities to the youth and reducing unemployment rates in the country.
The Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY) is another important initiative taken by the government to achieve SDG 8. This program aims to provide financial assistance to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to promote entrepreneurship and self-employment. The program provides loans up to Rs. 10 lakhs to SMEs, which has helped many entrepreneurs to start their businesses. This initiative has helped to boost the country’s economy and create employment opportunities.
The National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) is another program aimed at achieving SDG 8. The program guarantees 100 days of employment to rural households in India. This program has helped to improve the living standards of the rural population and reduce poverty. It has also helped to create employment opportunities in rural areas, which has reduced migration to urban areas.
The Digital India program is another initiative taken by the government to achieve SDG 8. This program aims to provide digital infrastructure and services to citizens across the country. The program has helped to create employment opportunities in the IT sector and promote digital entrepreneurship. It has also helped to improve the quality of education and healthcare in the country.
India has also made significant progress in improving the working conditions of its citizens. The government has implemented several labor laws to protect the rights of workers and ensure fair wages. The Maternity Benefit Act, 2017, is one such initiative aimed at improving the working conditions of women. The act mandates that women be given paid maternity leave of 26 weeks, which has helped to improve the health of both mothers and children.
Conclusion
In conclusion, India has made significant progress towards achieving SDG 8. The government has implemented various initiatives aimed at creating employment opportunities, improving working conditions, and supporting entrepreneurship. The Make in India campaign, Skill India program, Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana, National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, Digital India program, and labor laws are some of the initiatives taken by the government to achieve SDG 8. While there is still work to be done, India is on the right track towards achieving sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all.
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