NEW DELHI — The government on Friday launched a new initiative to help unemployed Indians locate the 7.8% economic growth reported in the latest GDP figures, officials said.
The programme follows celebrations over India’s April-June growth, which came in at 7.8%, while questions continue over whether the strong headline figure is reaching jobs, wages and household finances.
Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal has described critics questioning the figures as “jobless”, giving officials what they called a useful starting point for the new employment initiative.
“We have identified the problem,” a government official said. “Some people cannot find jobs, while others cannot find the growth. We are bringing them together.”
Under the programme, citizens will reportedly be allowed to search for GDP growth at employment exchanges, industrial areas and selected government offices.
Officials said the growth could be difficult to locate initially because it exists mainly as a national statistic and may not be visible in ordinary places such as monthly salary accounts.
Economists questioning the numbers will also receive access to a special facility where they can compare GDP series, methodologies and base years until they eventually lose track of what they were looking for.
The government said the programme would not interfere with economic growth, which is expected to continue expanding regardless of whether citizens manage to locate it.
“Growth is happening,” the official said. “If people cannot see it, we may have a visibility problem.”
A separate helpline is being considered for citizens facing higher expenses while still waiting to discover their share of the 7.8%. Officials said the helpline would open soon.
Subject to strong economic growth.
