A war of words has broken out between the ruling dispensation and the opposition over the unemployment situation in the state after Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant appeared to dispute the figures quoted by the NITI Aayog. Sawant, in comments to the media, said that the NITI Aayog’s figure was inaccurate since, in his opinion, many of those whose names are listed on the employment exchange portal are already employed, but continue to keep their names on the portal as they are hoping for a government job.
While there may be some truth to Sawant’s assertion, but it is entirely inaccurate to assume that names on the portal are already employed. There can’t be an assumption that everyone who registers on the employment exchange portal sits idle and waits for the government to get back to them as and when an opening comes up or they are employed via a job fair.
It is only right that an unemployed youth gets whatever job is available in a bid to fill his stomach and tide over the interim period while at the same time waiting in anticipation that the government’s mechanism will get it motion and help him or her find a better job -- be it in the private sector or the public sector.
One needs to also remember that being registered in the employment exchange is one of the prerequisites for availing of a government job, which prompts many youth to register themselves there to avoid the hassle of having to get themselves registered once a job is available. Besides, being registered also gives one a chance -- no matter how small -- that a call comes one day that a vacancy is available and that one should apply for it.
Sawant’s assertion appears to be more of an attempt to avoid the embarrassment of having to contend with a high unemployment figure that has happened largely under his watch. This isn’t to suggest that everyone unless employed by the government or a large private company should be considered as unemployed. But coupled with the fact that it was the ruling BJP itself that rode to power by first making the promise of delivering thousands of jobs through both creating them and ensuring that locals are employed, Sawant’s defensive comments suggest that the government is well aware of how it has failed on one of its core promises.
There is no doubt that the government has taken several steps to streamline the employment registration process including taking the system online, and mandating that private players to advertise their vacancies via the government portal. Indeed there have even been instances when companies have been penalised for failing to advertise their recruitment drives via the centralised portal. However, these have been few and far in between and by and large whatever little recruitment is taking place, is taking place through bypassing the system leaving the government high and dry.
It is imperative that the government now face up to the situation and not try to wriggle out of it by either trying to downplay it or pretending it doesn’t exist.
