Large Scale Public Welfare Schemes for enhancing employability in SAARC Countries: a SWOT Analysis

With the growing population, the problem of unemployment is escalated. To fight with this problem every governmental body launches various Public Welfare Schemes (PWS) from year to year for welfare of poor or below poverty line population i.e. giving wages by taking work.PWS sometimes referred as public aid and social support for all citizens. Hence, it is very pertinent to understand which PWS is useful for which sector. Through this paper, an attempt is made to outline various PWS pertaining to SAARC nations only and with the help of SWOT analysis various parameters are identified like Strength, Weakness, opportunities and threats which will further helps in understanding the base of particular PWS. Lastly based on SWOT analysis discussion part is done in which general comparison of various PWS is done. Results will help in making understand which PWS carries how much importance and capability of generating employability and entrepreneurship. Indexing terms/Keyword: Public Welfare Schemes (PWS); SAARC; SWOT analysis; Employability; Social welfare.


Introduction
The concept that Public Welfare Scheme (PWS), framed as one of the strong social safety system through which redistribution of wealth and meaningful employment is generated. According to Devereux and Solomon (2006), several nations are gradually implementing several strategies to fight increasing poverty and unemployment.PWS sometimes referred as public aid and social support for all citizens. Generally, welfare is largely provided by the government groups in developed countries and lesser part is provided by social groups, charities and others inter-governmental organizations. Similarly, as per McCord (2008), PWS included all the activities, which execute the wages payment in return of labor whether by the state or by any state agent. Subbarao (2001) defined PWS in terms of World Bank as schemes in which participants obtain benefits if they work. These schemes or programmes include employment at a very low wage rate to fight against poverty. Therefore, PWS are proposed to provide a basic income to all workers in order to meet their subsistence needs. PWS could be seen in various forms-food-for-works (FFW), cash-for-work (CFW), agricultural inputs (fertilizers and seeds) for work (as in the Malawian Government's) or Inputs for Assets (IFA) programmed (UK DFID, 2004). PWS refers to the provision of social services, i.e. 'those means developed and institutionalized by society to promote the ends, which are wholly or primarily social' (Townsen 1976). More specifically, Baker (1991) defines public welfare as programs that help people to meet their economic, social, educational, and health needs. According to Spicker (1988) and Whitaker and Federico (1997) PWS is organized and operates according to three principles, namely collective responsibility, universality and selectivity. Collective responsibility is the central principle, which requires risk sharing and redistribution among members of society. The principle of universality means in theory social welfare services shall be available to all the needy, who need them (Timmuss 1968). Selectivity means that social welfare services shall be given to the neediest, while excluding the others (Spicker 1988).

3.1.3pws
Of India:-India along with other Brazil, Malaysia, South Africa and China emerged as one of the developing country. India is part of many reputed groups like and becoming an important asset for many world's leading corporations. It is evident from facts that India emerges as one of the largest population country among all SAARC members. So, for helping peoples of Indian terms of employment, job security and education, government came up with beneficial PWS. Table 3 PWS of India list out few PWS including their sector and key provision.

PWS Of Pakistan: -
The area of Pakistan has a long history of settlement and civilization that includes some of the most ancient cultures. There are some public welfare schemes are launch for public welfare out of which some are discussed in Table 5 PWS of Pakistan.

Pws Of Sri Lanka: -In
Sri lanka high unemployment rates and macro-economic imbalances have been significant problems in Sri Lanka since mid 1960s. There was a transition from a land -surplus economy in need of immigrant labour to develop her tea and rubber plantations, to a labour -surplus economy. Unemployment rates rose from about 10 to 11 percent of the labour force during the 1950s to a record high of 24 percent in the 1970's. The GDP Growth Rates were at a record low level and private foreign investment fell to a negligible level as result of economic policies adopted under the state-controlled economy. The overall effect was a virtual collapse of the economy in the mid-1970. There are some public welfare schemes are launch for public welfare out of which some are discussed in Table 6 PWS of Sri lanka.

The Swot Analysis
SWOT analysis is generally stands for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats. It is a basically a business analysis technique which helps in identifying organization's potential strengths and using them will help in creating opportunities and reducing threats; and identifying weaknesses in order to fade them. SWOT analysis helps to evaluate the present situation, and to identify measures. Inspire of benefits there are few drawbacks of this analysis like it depends on subjective instincts, avoids quantification, and lacks prognostic powers (Agarwal, et al., 2012). SWOT analysis is generally based on the individual's intuitions, which may change according to persons, which make effectiveness of SWOT analysis weak.
Before applying the SWOT to SAARC countries, it would appropriate to show the reasons for taking the SAARC countries for analysis. Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka are largest emerging market economies these countries have potential to grow faster than the developed countries. After getting the information about PWS of SAARC with the help of SWOT analysis strength, weakness, opportunities and threats are explained. Table 6discusses the SWOT analysis of SAARC various PWS.

1.
Increased identity/ownership of RMA among elected members and officials.

2.
Increased efficiencies in identification of roads in RMP.
1. Persistence of socially constructed gender roles.

3.
Nonpreparation of alternative training sources/instituti ons to sustain CS.

1.
Public support for RMP.
2. Excellent combination of social and economic benefits through RMP.

3.
Trained cadre of RMA members, UP secretaries, local residents and elected members creating a favorable environment.
1. Ambiguity about the future of RMP itself.

2.
Financia l resource constraints at both Upazilas and Ups.

3.
Male dominance in Upazilas and Ups.

100-Day Employment Generation
Programme (100-EGP) 1.It was the largest safety net programme in the history of the GOB that focused on employment generation.

2.
Women benefited in terms of food security. 3. An additional objective was to promote a wider acceptance of such occupations.

4.
An impact assessment analysis found the programme is effective, relevant and cost-effective. 2. Helps in rural development.

3.
Women empowerment and economic independent to women.

4.
Financia l inclusion strategies by opening bank or post office account.

5.
Protectio n against poverty and provide food and livelihood security.

5.
Lack of support structure needed by PRI's.

6.
Lack of enforcement of redressed systems. For rural development.

3.
Women empowerment and economic independent to women.

4.
It creates employment through a series of infrastructure projects designed and implemented at local level, each resulting in the construction of a physical asset.

5.
Protectio n against poverty [as one component of Poverty Alleviatio n Fund (PAF)] and provide food and livelihood security.

5.
Dated training models and curricula.

Discussion And Conclusion
It is evident from literature that many authors committed that PWS are very useful in welfare of peoples. Hence, it is necessary for government to understand and to evaluate ongoing and past PWS benefits, weakness and future avenues so that they must know where to put more focus and resources. In this paper an attempt is made to collect prevalent data pertaining to SAARC PWS and with the help of SWOT analysis all parameters regarding PWS are studied like strength, weakness, opportunities and threats and compared so that one can understand global projection of PWS. From the SWOT analysis table it is seen that South African PWS named Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) have Low quality training for participants, only focus on existing road infrastructure, so the programme remained the story of "unfinished rural transformation and revolution" . Similarly, on the other hand the new Russian pension scheme made Russian workers and pensioners more secure about their post-retirement futures than they were under the prior scheme (1999s), reducing nation's fiscal burden but is less advantageous for workers in the informal sector. China's PWS named Yigong-daizhen programme provided Farmers and administrative cadres training in their fields, but unskilled workers exploited individually due to unpaid work but benefitted collectively by improved rural infrastructure. Indian PWS Swarnajayanti Gram Swarojgar Yojna (SGSY) becomes the Indian largest holistic programme covering all aspects of self-employment for rural BPL people based on micro finance concepts but the prescribed guidelines were not followed properly and in practice activities are focused on low productivity primary sector. Lastly brazil PWS Bolsa Familia Programme (BFP) becomes the scheme to reduce poverty, and even reduce inter-generationa l transmission of poverty, but became controversial in Brazil under presumption that people with less education would not use their money wisely. Hence from above analysis it is seen that those who are considering selfemployment require an understanding of what will be involved, including the assessment of risk and of the costs (and benefits) of working for oneself. Attitudes, values and behaviors may also be important in forming entrepreneurial intentions. At pre-entry stage, business planning, including market research is important. Such a planning process will be supported by generic management skills. The quality of the business idea itse lf is also of clear significance. For entry and survival, a variety of capabilities are necessary, including the capacity to deal with the practicalities of finance, legislation, business development and sales. Management skills (including many strategic functions) and financial capabilities have been identified as being particularly crucial, and deficiencies in this area may cause failure. Growth and expansion require refinements in management skills, especially with regard to human resource management. On the basis of empirical results, the new activities based on local resources, occupational skills of the people and availability of markets for rural entrepreneurship would be identified and an appropriate skill development framework would be formulated. The design, duration of training and the training curriculum would be tailored to meet the needs of the identified key activities.