Context: There is an issue with basing the employment figures on the Gross Value Added (GVA) growth, which sets the limit of sectoral growth in sectors like construction.
Rise of construction amid pandemic:
Limits of sectoral growth: An increase in GVA does not always translate into growth in employment.
Conclusion: The growth that the construction sector has experienced has not “trickled down” to the workers employed in it. The need of the hour is to go beyond relying on sectoral growth as a means of delivering relief to workers. Direct transfers of cash and food are also needed, as is livelihood support through employment guarantee programmes.