The issue of un-employment has reached such perilous levels in Nagaland that the subject has become a hit among the elected representatives of Nagaland both past and present to finally agree that government jobs will not solve it. It is over staffed bursting at its seams and is eating up the major portion of the money sanctioned by the central government. Their claim is further substantiated by the number of fresh registrations in the employment exchanges in the state during 2015-2016 touching 24134 persons.
A legislator from Dimapur alluded that for a task of one Lower Division Assistant, ten were employed with many sitting at home and drawing salaries. A public acknowledgement of the existence of the practice and actually a crime especially for those indulging in it. Another legislator takes a step further and dwells on the problems of unemployment stating that the educated youths are not employable. ‘Employability’ is a very recent word for the Nagas but nevertheless has become very pertinent at present.
The idea of Nagaland over the years has almost reached the vicinity where it can be called a failed state due to its lack of accountability and the continued idea that the central government has to take care of all our problems. It has an oversized bureaucracy disproportionate to and lacking in the services that is required to be provided to the citizens. There is an all round air of cynicism in the state. A major paradigm shift is required to address the problem.
With very few avenues in the private sector and the wish of every parent of a white-collared job for their kids, it has overrated the position of the bureaucrats since the time of statehood and has always made government jobs more attractive to the people. A local concept of power and prestige is always attached with the government jobs.
The absence of a sizeable number of enterprises in the private sector results in poor revenue in the state unable to sustain its annual budget. All permutations and combinations go wrong because it always ends in deficit. Moreover it is also noticed and reported that the desired amount of tax collection is not achieved due to various factors affecting the state.
The recent trend of our lawmakers advising the youth to seek private avenues and self employment citing the over-staffed government sector as the reason should not be an excuse to shy away from the problem. Instead it has to be taken as a blessing in disguise with the central government launching industry centric flagship programmes in India like ‘Make in India’, ‘Skill India’, ‘Start up India’ etc. It is a cliché to repeat to our state government what ought not to be done while implementing. Just make it happen!