In India, twin problems exist i.e. poverty and unemployment. Poverty can effectively be eradicated only when the poor start contributing to growth by their active involvement in the development process. This can only be achieved by launching various employment schemes.

Following points discuss the importance of employment generation programmes to eradicate poverty

1. Nexus between Unemployment and Poverty: There exists a deep nexus between unemployment and poverty. If employment opportunities are generated, then more people will get employment which will lead to a rise in their income. This, in turn, will help in reducing poverty. 
2. Availability of Basic Facilities: With the rise in employment opportunities, the income of the poor people increases and they are able to get access to good education, health facilities, proper sanitation, etc.
3. Creation of Assets: The employment generation programmes of the government aim at creation of assets like water harvesting, irrigation facilities, construction of roads, construction of dams, etc. All these assets help in the social and economic development of the rural and urban areas and hence go a long way in eradicating poverty.
4. Creation of Skills: An essential element of employment generation programmes is the formation of human capital by imparting skills to the unskilled labourers through training. This skill formation will make the poor capable of getting employment which in turn will enhance their income-earning capacity. 

The government has started poverty alleviation programmes like Prime Minister Rozgar Yojana, Swarna Jayanti Shahari Rozgar Yojana, MNREGA etc. The MNREGA aims to enhance livelihood security in rural areas by providing at least 100 days of wage employment in a financial year to every household whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work. These programmes are trying to deliver the maximum to eradicate poverty by generating employment opportunities for the poor.

First Five Year Plan of India (1951-56)

On December 8, 1951, the Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru presented the first five-year plan to the Parliament of India. This was based on the Harrod-Domar model. At that time, India was facing three problems – the influx of refugees, a severe shortage of food, and also mounting inflation.

India had to recover from the partition and the disequilibrium in the economy due to the Second World War. The First Plan, therefore, had the objectives of rehabilitating refugees, agricultural development, and self-sufficiency in food along with controlling inflation.