New Delhi, Dec 16 (Inditop.com) State-sponsored jobs for women under various schemes fell sharply by nearly 80 percent to 72,701 in 2008-09, the government informed the Lok Sabha Wednesday.

Replying to a query, the Minister of State (independent charge) for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Dinsha Patel revealed that 72,701 women were employed under the Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP) and Prime Minister’s Rojgar Yojana (PMRY) during 2008-09 from 362,918 in 2007-08.

He said that the Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme has been formulated by merging PMEGP and PMRY.

“The government is implementing these schemes and programmes for generating employment opportunities, including for women, by setting up new enterprises,” said Patel.

Replying to another query on plans to popularise Khadi products globally, Patel said the Khadi and Village Industries Commission would provide incentives to people to participate in international exhibitions besides giving five percent export subsidy for value of items exported.