In an effort to revitalise the urban economy, the government is preparing a master plan for Dhanbad and Ranchi, two of Jharkhand’s biggest cities, to help them grow in terms of economy and jobs. This plan is aimed at creating a data-driven model that can assist policymakers in understanding employment opportunities and crafting strategies to promote economic growth.
This is a shift of policymaking from a top-down approach at the national level to a more micro level of policymaking at the city level, officials say. For both these cities, information on employment and workforce participation, and employment by sector, will be collected. This will give information on employment levels, industry sectors generating employment and employment deficits.
What is unique about the project is that it will focus on the informal sector, which is a large part of the workforce in both Dhanbad and Ranchi. Data will be gathered by the government from micro-businesses, street vendors, construction workers and home-based businesses. Particular focus will be placed on female entrepreneurs and the digitalization of these sectors. This will help to better understand informal economic activities and develop policies to help small businesses.
The data will be analyzed to develop an employment and economic profile of the city. Using this information, the government will determine new opportunity sectors that can create employment and investment opportunities. Priorities will include infrastructure projects, industrial growth, and jobs that require a high level of skill.
The initiative is aimed at promoting the growth of Tier-2 cities and reducing the burden of urbanisation on large cities. The government hopes the plan will create jobs by strengthening local economies.
The plan, if successful, can make Dhanbad and Ranchi the economic powerhouses of eastern India, experts say. However, they add that the plan will be successful if the data is collected in time, and the plan is executed and coordinated with the federal government.
Lastly, the plan is a long-term approach to combine economic planning and real-time data to increase efficiency and inclusivity of Indian cities.
