-----------MENACE OF UNEMPLOYMENT-------------------- -------------Niuto Jimomi------------ Unemployment is the mother of all ills, It is difficult to expect truth; nobility and honesty from a person who cannot have two square meals a day, a half clad and a half fed man is a diseased man and a diseased man infects a society, the fire of hunger consumes all the noble virtue of a citizen, every sensible citizen know there is mass unemployment in Nagaland, yet this issue remains a neglected topic. Nagaland has a weak industrial sector where almost the entire populace depend on the Government salary, the ratio of Government employees (Nagaland) to population is highest among the states in India and the capacity of the Government to provide employment has been stretched to the limit , population is increasing by leaps and bounds but Jobs and gainful avenues are not created in the same proportion yet with no alternative avenue we depend on service sector and naturally a large section of the people is left unemployed. The gravity of the unemployment in Nagaland is theatrical taking for instance where a staggering 13,942 candidates competed for 71 (the ratio being 1:196) posts in the recently concluded examination conducted by NPSC which actually had the lowest applicants compared to usual 17,000 (1:239) applicants any other year. These odd 4,000 (roughly) candidates did not apply for as a result of NPSCs introduction of online application where many could not get by with the new format of admission, and few candidates who were denied admit card by the NPSC accusing that they did not pay the admission fee as required .otherwise an average 17,000 would have written the said exam. To add to our woe of limited opportunity for employment our educational institutions produce thousands of graduates who respond to the same fate and it keeps on multiplying year after year diminishing employment opportunity furthermore, let alone creation of new avenues and posts for employment our government cannot afford basic salary for its existing employees and if this trend continue our situation will worsen and soon be clogged, crumble the fabric of our society. Unemployment is the root cause of violence and corruption; in our case it is a ticking time bomb which needs to be defused..It is impossible for the government to employ every educated person but certainly the government can formulate diligent and practicable plans outside the existing stagnant situation. Flagship programmes initiated by our former chief minister Nepheiu Rio vis-à-vis unemployment problem is laudable yet debatable, measures taken by his government to mete out special requirements by introducing (i) Year of farmers (2006-2007). (ii) Year of entrepreneurs (2010-2011). (Iii) Year of Youths cum-Tribal festivals 2012-2013 where 3,000 Naga entrepreneurs was assured to provide all necessary help in their endeavour. Vision 2020 promised ‘self sufficiency were all promised but in papers. Those centrally sponsored schemes proposed through department of Industries and Commerce subsidies meant to set up hundreds of handloom, iron and steel fabrication, stone crushers, candle making units, etc as envisaged in the tall book Guide to enterprise promotion by Department of Industry and Commerce, Government of Nagaland 2010-2011 these schemes is all but biased for it benefitted only the rich, the Bureaucrats, the politicians, their families and their associates. The presence of Illegal Bangladeshi Immigrants in our state specially Dimapur is not only a threat to our security problem but also a threat to our vulnerable economy, It has complicated our social and political fabric of our society. We have to change the system or the system itself will override us. Our educational institutions should focus on those courses which are viable, practical and job oriented to exploit our industrial potential and to provide jobs to our unemployed youths in such a way that they are practically capable to start their own ventures. More stress should be laid on technical and vocational education to make use of human resources rather than to pursue bookish education which only produces clerks. When people get technical and vocational education, they will not hanker after services on completing their education, they will come out well prepared to stand on their own feet. The problem will be half-solved if this suggestion is implemented. a ploughman on his feet is better than a gentleman on his knees” Benjamin Franklin. In order to do away with this, to bring about change, NGOs should take the helm and work hand in hand in every aspects of public welfare. Indeed it would be a herculean task to salvage our horrible situation nevertheless, if it cannot or will not happen the easy way it must be done the hard way. Regardless of our hopeless condition for employment most of the educated are service minded and depend on the government in absence of any alternative and because of better security and the social status it holds. On our part most of our lads think being engaged in manual labour is low and an humiliating endeavour or simply do not want to risk to venture and pursue ones own livelihood, an attitude we need to do away and adapt, develop work culture, impregnate our mind the fact that no job is derogatory and low as long as long as you dont harm others. The main causes of corruption in our state are 1. Ineffective supervision 2. Lack of transparency 3 Easy opportunities 4. Weak and ineffective Local district government/administration 5. Fixed and purchased vote bank with manipulated Voters lists 6. Growth in the Industrial and Service Sectors is not adequate 7. Inefficient Anti-corruption Strategy. Many a social evil is spread by the unemployed. Frustration, drug-addiction any anti-social activity are by and large the evil results of unemployment. Unrest and disorder increase in society; labour is available in abundance, as such it should be top most priority of our government to facilitate and provide avenues for employment by any means then let the Devil finds work for idle hands!
Posted on: Sun, 20 Jul 2014 14:19:21 +0000
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