Manpower and employment

2.01 Amelioration of poverty and reduction in unemployment continue to be the prime objectives of development planning. In order to achieve these twin objectives, selfemployment and wage employment programmes have been launched both in rural and urban areas to benefit economically backward and socially vulnerable target groups. The problem of unemployment among educated youths, who generally seek employment in Government and semi Government offices, public sector undertakings, factories, business establishments etc. is more acute. Although it was aimed to achieve near-full employment by the end of the Ninth Plan, the problem of unemployment still persists.