Bhopal, Aug 20: Highlighting the steps taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to tackle unemployment in the nation, BJP president Amit Shah said the policies of Centre is turning youths into “job-creators”, rather than “job-seekers”. Also Read - High-Voltage Political Drama in Rajya Sabha as Derek O'Brien, 7 Other Opposition MPs Suspended For a Week Over Unruly Behaviour

Shah credited the ‘Stand-up India’ and ‘Start-up India’ schemes of government for assisting the youths towards approaching the path of entrepreneurship, rather than seeking jobs in the service sector. Also Read - Monsoon Session LIVE: Eight Rajya Sabha MPs Suspended From Remaining Sittings of Parliament Session Over Farm Bills Ruckus

“The aim of the government is to empower the youth. The onus of creating the ‘New India’ lies on the shoulders of our youth. Earlier, they used to remain job-seekers. But now, with the help of Stand-up India and Start-up India schemes, they have become job-creators,” the BJP chief told the gathering here at the inaugural function of Madhya Pradesh government’s Medhavi Vidyarthi Yojana scheme. Also Read - Farm Bills Row: 'Black Day of Parliamentary Democracy in India,' Says Congress; Rajnath Assures MSP Won't End | Highlights

The claims made by Shah over the success of tackling unemployment came in the backdrop of Opposition targeting the Modi government over the “lack of job creations”. Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi, while addressing JD(U) rebel Sharad Yadav’s programme on Thursday, said the Prime Minister “failed to live-up to his promise of creating two-crore jobs per year”.

Although the pace of job-creation is not in accordance with the poll plank of BJP ahead of coming to power, the unemployment rate is restricted to 1 per cent, said Labour Minister Bandaru Dattatreya in May, 2017.

“The unemployment rate in the country right now is 1 per cent. Around 4 crore people are registered with employment exchanges,” Dattatreya was quoted as saying by the Economic Times.

The number of job-seekers, who have enrolled at the employment exchanges, remained wavering around 4.48 crore in 2014 and 2015. In a written reply to the Lok Sabha, the Ministry of Labour and Employment said out of the 4,48,52,500 registered job seekers, a mere 2,53,900 were provided employment.

According to Dattatreya, the unemployment situation in the nation would be resolved by 2020, with the creation of 5 crore jobs by Centre.