The government today said that there was an increase of employment by 12 lakhs from January 2009 to January this year. <br/><br/>Replying to questions in Lok Sabha Monday the Labour and Employment Minister Mr. Mallikarjun Kharge said that the various employment schemes being implemented and the stimulus packages announced by the government has helped generate employment.<br/><br/> He however admitted that employment had declined by almost 4.91 lakhs in the period between October and December, 2008 and between April to June last year by 1.31 lakh.<br/><br/>He said that the Rajiv Gandhi Shramik Kalyan Yojna also ensures six month salary in case of lock outs. Replying to another question, the Minister said 11th five year plans aims at creating 58 million additional job opportunities. <br/><br/>He said employment is projected to grow at an average rate of growth of 2.73 per cent per annum and unemployment at an average growth rate of minus 8.65 per cent per annum. <br/><br/>Mr Kharge said government has been constantly making efforts to increase additional employment opportunities through normal growth process and by implementing various employment generation programmes including the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme.