Mr Beni Prasad Verma minister of steel has said that there has been a significant increase in production of steel during the last few years.
The data on production of crude steel in the country during the last five years is as under:
| Year | Quantity | Growth rate over last year |
| 2006-07 | 50.81 | 9.4 |
| 2007-08 | 53.86 | 5.9 |
| 2008-09 | 58.44 | 8.5 |
| 2009-10 | 65.84 | 12.7 |
| 2010-11* | 69.57 | 5.7 |
In million tonnes
Provisional
Source - Joint Plant Committee
In a written reply in the Lok Sabha he said, there is no direct correlation between increase in employment and the increase in production of steel. It is not necessary that the employment should increase in the same ratio with the increase in production due to technological developments, automation, process improvement & best practices and the need to progressively reduce manpower per million tonne of steel production which made it possible to achieve higher production targets with less manpower.
He said, the details of production of crude steel in the public sector undertakings and direct employment generated / recruitment made during the last three years are as under:
Steel Authority of India Ltd
| Year | Production | No of Recruitment |
| 2008-09 | 13.41 | 1288 |
| 2009-10 | 13.51 | 1788 |
| 2010-11 | 13.76 | 1575 |
(Production in million tonnes)
Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Ltd
| Year | Production | Manpower as on 31st March |
| 2008-09 | 3.145 | 17,225 |
| 2009-10 | 3.399 | 17,830 |
| 2010-11 | 3.424 | 17,829 |
(Production in million tonnes)
The Minister said that in today’s de regulated, open market economy, the role of Government is that of a facilitator and in that capacity, it promotes/encourages growth of steel industry through suitable policy measures. Both the existing public sector steel companies namely SAIL and RINL are in the process of expanding their crude steel capacities thereby creating employment opportunities for unemployed youths.
Mr Verma added that another public sector company, namely NMDC Ltd, is setting up a 3 million tonnes per annum integrated steel plant at Nagarnar, Chhattisgarh which is likely to generate additional employment opportunities.
