The trauma of distress migration of 2020, low wages, lack of social security and support systems in urban areas have combined to reduce the return of migrant workers to urban centres.
While job crisis tightens its grip, state governments are seeking an easy escape by passing the burden to private sector, although not entirely without valid reasons.
The increased capital expenditure by government, ECLGS and production-linked incentive scheme in the Budget are meant to create jobs, says FM Sitharaman.
Haryana, Rajasthan and Jharkhand had the highest unemployment rates in December 2021, while Karnataka, Gujarat, Odisha and Chhattisgarh had the lowest.