BY: Surjit Singh Flora
(Samajweekly) Every year, people around the globe come together to commemorate 12th August as International Youth Day. Nevertheless, it is worth considering what significance this day holds for the younger generation. It is truly unfortunate that the country’s current state is a result of the corrupt practices within its political system.
It is unfortunate that a significant majority of the country’s leaders are primarily motivated by power, positions, and financial gain. Political parties often exploit religious and caste divisions as a means to gain power. Superstition can distract young minds from scientific and technical thinking. It is evident that governments have consistently failed to prioritize the creation of employment opportunities for the youth.
When it comes to unemployed youths, their story is incredibly painful. While an exact count is not available, there are some approximate figures. Regrettably, even if a young person is hired for just one day, it is still classified as employment.
The NSO, or National Statistics Organization, conducts regular surveys and publishes reports. The most recent data shows a rate of 7.86 pretties data does not account for individuals who have ceased their job search.
Allow me to present some comparative data from 2014, when the NDA government assumed power. The data showed a significant increase of 3.9 percent, which was deemed to be quite high. In response, Narendra Modi made a promise to generate two crore jobs annually over the next five years.
So, the current data has nearly doubled. What has been the government’s response…
When the Modi government came into power, it introduced the Skill India initiative. Rise to your feet. Loans for Mudra. Embrace the spirit of entrepreneurship in India. Manufactured in India.
The primary goal of all schemes was to promote self-employment. Or perhaps entrepreneurship.
While the Make in India initiative aimed to boost manufacturing companies in India, there were hopes that foreign companies, particularly from China, would be encouraged to establish their manufacturing plants in the country.
It is expected that this scheme will significantly boost the manufacturing to GDP ratio, increasing it from 17 percent to 25 percent.
It was widely anticipated that the Make in India initiative would lead to the creation of 100 million new jobs over the course of the next five years.
The government made a promising start with its focus on improving the Ease of Doing Business, which resulted in commendable rankings on the global stage.
Additionally, the government introduced the Land Acquisition Bill, which faced opposition from various political parties and ultimately had to be abandoned.
In 2019, Niti Ayog conducted a review of this program and found that manufacturing companies chose to invest in countries like Indonesia, Korea, Vietnam, and other South East Asian countries instead of India.
Thus, the hope for 100 million more jobs has come to an end…
Regarding other projects, like start up India, Skills India. Rise up, India. Loans for small businesses. Although it did have some effect, it failed to make a substantial impact.
However, government departments have decreased their recruitment. For instance, a significant number of vacancies were eliminated in the Railways.
The Union government currently has a significant number of vacancies. Approximately four months ago, the Prime Minister made a statement regarding the filling of 1.5 lakh vacancies in a mission-oriented manner within the next year or so. However, there has been no visible action taken, such as the announcement of vacancies.
Regrettably, the policies implemented by the Government have had a detrimental impact on the livelihoods of individuals. Allow me to elaborate on this matter.
The government made the decision to demonetize the 500 and 1000 currency notes. This government action had a significant negative impact on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and informal sectors that relied on cash transactions.
Many small and informal businesses had to shut down or scale back their operations. This had a significant negative impact on employment.
The way GST was designed and executed has resulted in a significant loss of employment in the SME and informal sectors.
Later, as a result of the pandemic, the government made the decision to implement a national lockdown, which once again severely impacted employment opportunities in the informal sectors.
We witnessed the heartbreaking sight of millions of migrant workers having to walk hundreds of kilometers just to reach their homes.
In light of the current situation, it is evident that the implementation of government policies and programs has been lacking sincerity, resulting in detrimental effects on employment. This issue has been acknowledged by senior officials, including the General Secretary of RSS, who has expressed concerns about unemployment, inflation, widespread poverty, and the growing gap between the rich and the poor.
Despite the limited availability of government jobs, the country’s youth continue to struggle with high unemployment rates. Throughout the nation’s history, young people have consistently been at the forefront of various significant movements and causes. The prosperity of a country can be easily determined by observing its youth. Today, many young people in the country are facing challenges when it comes to pursuing opportunities overseas.
There can be numerous factors contributing to this. These issues encompass inadequate systems, challenges with youth employment, corruption, and more. Despite the numerous promises made by the parties, no specific policy materializes. Up until this point, the nation’s political landscape has exclusively favored the affluent. Parties and political individuals often secure election funds from wealthy individuals and companies, which are then utilized to effectively govern.
As a result, politics has transformed into a profit-driven enterprise rather than a means of serving the public. It is disheartening to witness the buying and selling of elected representatives by individuals. In the realm of politics, financial influence plays a significant role, and unfortunately, those with substantial wealth often pass away without adequately addressing the pressing matters of poverty, youth, and other challenges that our nation confronts. The problem of youth unemployment is a matter of great concern. There has been a concerning decline in job opportunities within the country.
Unfortunately, the country’s youth do not have access to self-employment opportunities. On average, a significant majority of the country’s population is made up of individuals under the age of 35. It is evident that India has a significantly higher number of young people compared to any other nation. However, these young individuals face a scarcity of job prospects, regardless of whether they prefer traditional employment or being self-employed. This situation is a source of immense despair, compelling individuals to seek migration or resort to activities that are detrimental to society, such as terrorism, anti-social behavior, and drug abuse.
The younger generation in the country is currently feeling a deep sense of disillusionment. Depression and imbalance have unfortunately become all too familiar in his life. His personality is being adversely affected by the negative thoughts, anger, and stress that plague his mind. He appears to be moving further away from his cultural and social values. It is crucial to implement significant measures to rectify the current state of the economy. However, an even greater priority lies in generating both temporary and permanent job opportunities at the local level.
Thus, it is imperative for India and its states to adopt substantial policy reforms to tackle the problem of economic inequality and the detrimental impact it has on individuals. It is crucial for governments to take concrete steps in order to create employment opportunities for young people. Without addressing the concerns of the youth, a country’s progress will be hindered.
In order to tap into the potential of India’s youth, it is imperative for the government to initiate a meaningful dialogue regarding the generation of employment opportunities. It is only through this approach that we can reach a level playing field with developing nations. The contribution of the younger generation is vital in realizing the vision of the martyrs and in building and advancing the nation. It is crucial for the younger generation to have employment opportunities in order to make this a reality.
