Creation of employment opportunities has always been an important objective of development planning in india. the relative higher growth of population and labour force has led to an increase in the volume of unemployment and under employment from one plan period to another. The five year plans aimed at bringing employment into sharper focus with the goal of reducing unemployment to a neglible level within the next ten years. Such an approach is necessary , because it is now realised that larger and efficeient use of available human resources is the most effiective way of alleviating poverty, reduction in inequilities and sustenance of reasonable high pace of economic growth.

The crux of the Employment Assurance Scheme(EAS) is that those who are in need and are seeking employment will get assured wage employment for 100 days during the lean agricultural season.

Objective :

The primary objective of the EAS is creation of additional wage employment opportunities during the period of acute shortage of wage employment through manual work for the rural poor living below the poverty line.

The secondary objective is the creation of durable community , social and economic assests for sustained employment and development.

Status:

The programme will be implemented as a centrally sponsored scheme on ost sharing basis between the centre and states in the ratio of 75:25.

In shimoga district the scheme started during 1996-97 and at the first phase only four taluks i.e Hosanagar, Shikaripur, Sorab and Thirthahalli were covered.Lateron during 1997-98 all the 7 taluks were brought under this scheme.Formerly the taluks were classified as "C" blocks and were entitled Rs.50 Lakhs grants per taluka and action plan were prepared for Rs.75 Lakhs/Taluk.However the guidelines of this scheme were revised with effect from 1.9.1999 and the allocation of funds is based on the rural population.

                                    Report of Progress 2001-02