The government is speedily implementing the policies of globalisation, privatisation and liberalisation. It is not setting up any new undertakings in the public sector; in stead the existing ones are being rapidly dismantled. Permanent and regular jobs have drastically come down and work is being done by contract workers. Today, in almost all the industries, the number of contract workers has reached almost double that of the regular workers. Many young women and men who have studied up to tenth class, plus two, ITI, diploma courses and graduation etc and had to spend lot of money for their education, are working as contract workers as they could not get better jobs.

In the context of the Nation’s food security, the declining response of agricultural productivity to increased fertilizer usage in the country and to ensure the balanced application of fertilizers, the Government has introduced Nutrient Based Subsidy Policy (NBS) for decontrolled P&K fertilizers, w.e.f. 1.4.2010.

NREGA has been launched in rural areas of the country in a phased manner. In its first phase, the Act was implemented in 200 identified districts with effect from 2.2.2006. Out of the 200 districts selected for the first phase, 150 districts were those districts where National Food  For Work Programme was in operation and these districts had a higher SC/ST population. The Act was subsequently launched in 130 districts during 2007-08 and has been extended to all the remaining rural areas in the country from 1.4.2008.  Participation of beneficiaries under NREGA belonging to SC and ST category is  as under: