170
S
tate
of
I
ndia
’
s
L
ivelihoods
R
eport
2015
be valuable resources to learn from. As an
experiment, the extension services in some
small states can be totally handed over to
such committed agencies in the interest of
the farmers.
In the handloom and handicrafts sectors
the feeling is that those in charge are going
through the motions. Neither funding, nor
the expenditure has a reasonable relation-
ship with the number of people dependent
on these sectors. The attempted interven-
tions do not seem sustainable in the long
run. Providing health insurance cover for
artisans and craftsmen is a laudable act,
but not something a technical department
should prioritise as an objective. Skills, tech-
nology, infrastructure andmarkets are areas
where the Development Commissioners’
interventions are needed. The Khadi and
Village industries sector seems to focus well
on creation of enterprise and employment.
The numbers reported under PMEGP show
that with some margin money support and
project ideas entrepreneurs are willing to
take risks of setting up their own production
units. The need is to expand the outreach of
such programmes that provide autonomy to
the entrepreneur on what to do and provide
support appropriate for that choice.
While compulsory CSR by legislative fiat
has come into force, the socially relevant
interventions by corporate sector have been
in place for a long time. But the new entrants
to CSR have faced difficulties in the first year
of implementation in finding their feet in an
unfamiliar terrain. The CSR space urgently
needs professionals to man positions in the
companies and give direction to CSR activi-
ties. Livelihoods do not seem the first choice
for many corporates. Many are comfortable
with vocational skills training, but not liveli-
hoods in the real sector. Voluntary agencies
working in the field should come up with
good designs in real sector livelihoods that
the companies can take up.
The past year has witnessed the launch
of a number of programmes and campaigns
by the government. These are well meaning
and aim at making a difference to common
man in terms of not just livelihood oppor-
tunities but also an improved quality of
life. The focus on natural resources, climate
change issues, improving the quality of
labour force and their working conditions,
improving the ease of doing business, insti-
tutional and product interventions not just
in high finance and large projects but also
inmicroenterprises andmicrofinance offers
a welcome change agenda for the govern-
ment and the public alike. In the midst of
the urgency to change what does not work,
there should be no haste to dismantle what
works or what can be made to work. Some
of the plans seem an ambitious overreach
in terms of the numbers targeted (skilling).
Some might not find the financial resources
required (NREGS, NFSA). In some, the
operational modalities will require extensive
work in the last mile (JAM). But on the
whole the urgency and commitment shown
reflect a willingness to tackle the problems
and find solutions. The global situation of
low oil and commodity prices is a key sup-
port that can hold inflation under check
and facilitate a low interest rate regime. It is
up to the private sector—not just the mega
enterprise, but microenterprises too—to
step up and do their best.
The questions for the future lie in the
present. What if with increased devolutions,
the states neglect the livelihoods and social
sector programmes? Where do we find
funds for the NFSA and NREGS to fulfil
the legislative mandate? If it is far too large
a burden, should we not get the legislations
amended to bring in a dose of realism?What
is the state of readiness of private sector to
employ the skill trained people, especially
in the context of jobless growth experienced
in the current millennium? How to bring in
voluntary and private sector into livelihood
programmes of the government to promote
people participation and improve delivery
efficiency? When do we plan to have a min-
istry or a department to look at livelihoods
issues in an integrated manner instead of in
different silos? The hard questions do not
have easy answers. We need to work at them.
