Steve Chophy
DC Court, Dimapur
The figure is 70,422 educated unemployed Naga youths registered with the concerned department. There must be another good numbers of unregistered educated unemployed youths along with the dropout unemployed youths to be taken into account. While every year the state produces thousands Graduates to add to the numbers, the government is in no position to accommodate or to create or generate opportunities to provide employment to that number of youths on its own. To add to the storyline, the Government of Nagaland boasts of having employees that is surplus to its requirement making its employment scope more limited and with just a handful number of post advertised by NPSC every year, no factories or industries or any other employment generating sectors in Nagaland to provide employment to the youth, it is for us- the youths to decide and shape our own destiny.
While the youths in today’s fast-paced world are in a hurry to get accomplished and be successful in whatever field one is involved in, many of us choose to stay back and keep on bragging about being unemployed. Very often we are frustrated at our government at not being employed, since for us Government Job is the only employment option available. Why do we choose to only opt for “Government Job” when there are lots of opportunities available to earning a living? I do agree that being government employee, stability and security in life is guaranteed. But what if your ambition of being a government employee could not materialise? What if all your efforts did to pay off? Are you doomed for life? This unemployment can be solved only if we can change our mind-set of “WHITE COLLAR JOB ONLY” and give ourselves a chance.
Around the world, Fifteen-year-olds are developing codes and selling websites, where are we? Ours is a 21st century world with limitless scopes and opportunities. In our own backyard these Young Nagas like Hekani Jakhalu, Yanpvuo Yanfo Kikon, The Putsure brothers, Hokaito zhimomi, Imlibenla Wati, Dr. Yan Murry, Alobo Naga, Betoka Swu, James Chakhesang, Abokali Jimomi, Dreamz Unlimited theatre group, etc have all gone the distance to being an example to the youths of today. They have ventured out in search of opportunities and are now established in their own fields of expertise. What is holding us back then?
The parent’s and the society’s outlook of “Government Job only” is also having its drawbacks/negative implications on the mindset of the younger generations who without evaluating the world around him eats, sleeps and dreams government job only. With the world advancing at very fast pace and with the competition getting very competitive among the younger lots, the scope for employment at the government sector is minimal. As such, the parents understanding and outlook on the Govt Job and a Private Job should also change and give the much needed space to the young minds to decide and explore the various opportunities. One should start encouraging and motivating the youths to venture out into various private sectors for employments. With experience and certificate in hand at the later stages one can venture into his/her own field of expertise, thereby having a secured and stabled means of earning a living.
Let’s talk business; if one is to survey our society’s set-up one would find the stark reality of how outsiders have grab hold of the markets of our state: an employment generating avenue/sector. These are the many business taken up by outsiders in Nagaland, which are actually supposed to be the affairs of the local population and its youths. The earning sources or employment generating sector are all monopolised by outsiders thereby restricting our sources to earn a living as well as to being employed. The following are the few listed avenues: Second Hand Garment Dealers, Petty shops and trades, Constructions and manual labour works, Taxi and Auto Drivers, Butchers, fish and Meat suppliers, Vegetable Vendors and suppliers, Major Retailers/Mobile/electronics, Mechanics/Automobile industry, Scrap Dealers, Carpentry works, Bamboo business and Mat weaving, Business of Concrete Hume Pipes and moulding of railings etc, Sand business, Log Business, bricks business, Professions like Tailoring, hair cutting, cobbler etc, Businesses of Hazi Park Market, New Market, Hongkong Markets, super markets are owned and run by outsiders, all Markets and Shopping complexes in and around the towns are owned and managed by outsiders etc etc...
We brag about unemployment! Why won’t there be unemployment when these very employment generating sectors are monopolised by outsider’s.? Why won’t there be unemployment when the youths of today overlook these many opportunities? Why make an excuse of no employment when we are blind to the many opportunities at our doorsteps. Instead of just bragging about being unemployed, we should let go of our ego’s and pride and dig into and explore the many options available to us. If only we can give dignity, humbleness and patience a chance, if only we could “use local, buy local, eat local”, if only we could encourage and motivate our local youths to venture into those sectors, only if we can change our mindset of “Government Job’s only”, only then can our problems of UNEMPLOYMENT be solved. There are many options and Opportunities made available to us, and it is for you and me to tap this opportunities for our better tomorrow.
“Why haven’t you ever seen a Lamborghini commercial before? It’s because the people who can afford them aren’t sitting around watching television”.
God Bless.
