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Financial Assistance for SC Beneficiaries in Foreign Employment (2019-20 to 2023-24)


Observations:

  1. Sharp Decline in 2020-21: The number of SC beneficiaries availing foreign employment assistance dropped significantly from 1,922 in 2019-20 to 651 in 2020-21, mainly due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which disrupted international travel and employment.
  2. Gradual Recovery: The numbers began to recover in 2021-22 with 847 beneficiaries, and slightly increased to 864 in 2022-23, indicating a return to pre-pandemic levels, though growth was modest.
  3. 2023-24 (Up to September): As of September 2023, 700 persons availed assistance, showing a 20% decrease compared to the previous year. This could change by the end of the year, but the decline suggests a slowdown in recovery.

Conclusions:

  1. The COVID-19 pandemic had a major impact on foreign employment for SC beneficiaries, causing a sharp drop in 2020-21.
  2. There has been a steady but slow recovery since 2021, with numbers returning to pre-pandemic levels by 2022-23.
  3. The slight decline in 2023-24 (up to September) may indicate a slowdown in growth, possibly due to external factors like changing labor markets or visa restrictions.