Imlisanen Jamir
Government wages in Nagaland are a curious thing. On paper, they should be the envy of many in the private or unorganized sectors. But dig a little deeper, and the story gets murkier. The Nagaland State Human Rights Commission (NSHRC) has called for an urgent revision of minimum wages, a move that highlights how inflation has eroded the value of paychecks since 2019.
The numbers from that year—Rs 176 for unskilled laborers, Rs 210 for semi-skilled, and Rs 235 for skilled workers—seem shockingly low, especially when you consider that daily wages in the unorganized sector often exceed these amounts. It's almost as if parts of the government's pay structure are left out of the picture. But even with the full picture, the lure of government jobs in Nagaland is undeniable. They offer more than the private or unorganized sectors, along with the golden ticket of job security.
So, what's really going on here? Government wages, despite their issues, are still a lot more than what most people earn elsewhere. This explains why so many young people clamor for these jobs. Yet, the government keeps pushing the rhetoric that youth should explore other avenues. Easy to say, hard to do, especially when the private sector in Nagaland is barely growing and offers scant.
Take a look at our neighbors—Assam, Mizoram, Meghalaya—they’ve all revised wages and implemented Variable Dearness Allowance (VDA) to cushion the blow of inflation. Why hasn't Nagaland? Is it just bureaucratic inertia, or are the state’s coffers really that strained?
Nearly all of Nagaland’s revenue and central funding evaporate into salaries for government employees. With inflation biting hard, can the state afford a wage hike without tipping the financial scales? The distinction between skilled and unskilled labor in the government sector adds another layer of complexity. In Nagaland, these terms often blur, with many workers, regardless of their classification, barely scraping by. The wages from the 2019 notice seem implausibly low, and one wonders if they’re the full story.
Unemployment in the state paints a grim picture. The job market is stagnating, unable to keep pace with the growing number of unemployed youth. This reality fuels the relentless pursuit of government jobs, putting even more pressure on an already overstretched system.
The NSHRC’s recommendations are about more than just numbers on a paycheck. They touch on dignity, survival, and the right to a fair wage. The commission’s call to action is a stark reminder that the state must protect its workers from exploitation.
The NSHRC has laid out a path, but it’s just a starting point. Addressing wage stagnation and creating a sustainable job market requires more than policy tweaks. It demands a fundamental shift in how Nagaland approaches employment and economic growth.
In the end, it’s about fairness and dignity for every worker in Nagaland, whether they’re drawing a government salary or eking out a living in the private sector. The road ahead is long, but it’s one we must travel if we want to see real change.
Comments can be sent to imlisanenjamir@gmail.com
