Literacy ways to growth but illiteracy backs employment; Surprisingly true!

India’s younger generation is at grave risk as unemployment amongst the so called graduated youth has increased to 32 per cent during 2012-2013 as compared to 19.4 per cent in 2011-2012, statistics revealed by Labour Bureau’s “Third Annual Employment & Unemployment Survey 2012-13”. In the recent general elections, young India comprising 150 million youth citizens voted with a zeal that the new government will take sound measures to avail them with better employment opportunities. But unfortunately, the scenario still remains disturbing even after introducing employment related schemes and it will not be wrong if we say that illiteracy fetches a better chance of employability as compared to literacy, which assures a degree but not a job. Every one person out of three persons holding a graduation degree and is above in the age group 15-29 years is found to be unemployed in India.

Despite of the increased literacy rate in urban India with higher skill sets, Indian youth is either unemployed, underemployed, seeking employment or adjusting with unsecured work arrangements. This seems like a major concern as India is undergoing demographic transformation and soon to be the youngest country in the world says the report of State of the Urban Youth, India 2012.

Modi Government took progressive steps to transform employment exchanges into career centres and introduced various schemes like i-KVK, Skill certification, e-Skilling, overseas employment and career information centres, additional 165 KVKs and the Kaushalya Rath towards empowering the youth. PM Modi also emphasised on facilitating required resources to the manpower for encouraging the potential of youth, but looking at the current scenario will it make a significant difference towards the betterment of youth.

The issue and concerns of young people have always been at the centre of India’s policy making, but India fails to generate better employment opportunities. For a accelerated economic and social growth and eradicate poverty, India needs national as well as international cooperation among different labour market units like trade unions and vocational training organisations.

CPP holds the vision that self-reliant and skilled youth can be the game changer, if India wants to establish itself as one of the world’s fastest growing economies. After making significant reforms in the education sector, the enrolment in schools and colleges has grown but the saddest part is the participation in the workforce has fallen for both men and women. This is where the government needs to revisit and focus. Indian government needs to bring in such reforms and policies to achieve higher economic growth for securing the future aspirations of India’s youth.

CPP is a think tank, based in Delhi committed to dialogue and discussion on a wide array of issues like better governance, equity and inclusiveness, harmony in society, education et al…

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