Often, we come across in local newspapers, the bureaucrats and technocrats as well as the public leaders say that jobs ‘employment’ in the government departments have reached a saturated point. Is it true? Recently, Er. Vikho-o Yhoshü, MLA & Advisor IT & C, at Golden Jubilee celebration of Mima Students’ Union, on 27-12-12 (EMN) had reportedly said that unemployment also gives rise to problems such as frustration. Prior to that, Mr. S.I. Jamir, MLA, President NPCC, at the Silver Jubilee celebration of Phevima Youth Organization on 20-12-12 (NPN), had reportedly said that the biggest problem being faced by the youth was unemployment. One evening, when I was ferrying a taxi, the driver (local) said “the local youth who have not got a chance to be employed in government service feels humiliated when we see the non-locals availing government jobs and enjoying a secure livelihood. This is one reason why many youth landed in anti-social activities to gain monetary as well as physical power, not bothering the risk”.
Truly, on the line of seeking a job in government, we can say unemployment exists in our land. We have to ponder as to how the huge population of the youth could be employed. The issue of unemployment needed to be addressed early. It is not a thing out of our reach. Also, employment or unemployment cannot just be judged from government sector alone. This has to be taught beginning from the family– the smallest society. The larger society/government need to undertake excavatory exercises of the resources lying in our generation.
One needs to realize the much broader meaning of the word ‘employment’. Employment, in independent sense, can be said utilization of one’s own time and resources to produce and prosper, while on dependent term, it may be a submission or sell-off of one’s time to another authority to engage in a work and get paid to support his living and prosper further. Failure to come to either one of them can cause all form of negativity and develop ‘unemployment’ in the society. The root-cause of failure to put the mindset of the people to either one of them could prove that there is a defect existed in the system of governance.
Today, the causes of unemployment in Nagaland may be that the youth do not want to submit or bow down or self-off his time nor do not want to face hard work and risk to grow as one’s own master– self employment and self reliance. Many Naga youth are caught in the whirlwind pool of indecisiveness and lack of interest in any activity. Neglect of age-old traditional agricultural practices on one side and non adaptation to modern methods on the other is a dangerous trend developing in our society. Another cause of unemployment can be due to the non-opening of employment channels in private sectors. Industries and companies in the State, in its truest sense, are yet to take place to offer fair rewards to the youth. Whatever! Unemployment cannot be allowed to ruin all the qualities of our society.
Sooner than later, we have to explore the potential areas available within our everyday life and create avenues. Everyone has to act. “A stitch in time saves nine”. Making the unemployed employ in one way or the other can surely change our social structure into a better society– harmonious and progressive, and establish real peace in our land. Employment, then, will wash away all problems of today. I am sure, employment will bloom in our land very soon. A desire for quality of life will spring-up and bring healthy competition. This will create a new era, fitting the third millennium generation, proving that merit quality of life does not go in vain.
Interestingly, we see that the biggest dream of today’s youth is to get employment in a department or undertaking or agency of the State government. Truly, with the recognition of Naga community as a State under the government of India, every indigenous inhabitant desires a job: to offer service– service to the people and in return promote his livelihood and live at par with his peers. However, the shocking theme of those people managing the affairs of government saying that employment opportunities in government sector were already saturated is shocking as well as short sighted.
Every educated citizen knows that Nagaland is a small State. Its own resource generated is only 8% and therefore rely mainly on central government’s funding to function the State government. The government cannot provide a job to every citizen – the youth. With the growth of education as well as standardisation of civilization, educational qualification and proficiency: technical and professional, has become a must in many areas for employment. However, the main reasons for huge unemployment of the youth are not due to short of educational qualification or inemployability – unsuitable or below standard, to fit in. The benefactors as well as victims could comment befittingly on how recruitments are done in the government departments, for the Gazetted Officer Class I down to non-Gazetted Class II grade, and enrich the general public– what to inculcate or discourage in the system.
If we look into the statistical records of government employees, the bigger number of employee is found to be engaged in Grade IV category. Except in pockets of some departments viz PHE, Power, etc, services under Grade IV are usually non- professional posts. Major chunk of our youth today are employed in this grade. Therefore this category has vital importance even for the educated class, who has the ‘will’ to render a humble service to the government or who feels not confident of himself for a better rank. With the literacy rate of 80.11% in Nagaland every single vacancy, no matter what grade, requires to be valued as any other higher grades. One privilege land owners have is that, when departmental development takes place in a private land, an agreement is made with the villagers. It is negotiated mainly by offering Grade IV posts to land owners or by paying land compensation to the rightful owner. Likewise, for Divisional and District offices, grade III & IV are appointed from that district only, not to talk about appointing a non-local candidate. Lower grade, such as this, are not encouraged to be transferred to another district. Similarly, local youth are appointed for Grade III & IV posts in the Directorate and Secretariat level, in real sense. These systems are not helping our people much.
One can imagine how much irregularities, to the extent of appointing huge population of non-locals, exists in every level of our government. I hope somebody– you, will know better how much Grade IV posts are filled by non-locals in different government departments in Nagaland. Could this share come to our local youth, unemployment would have been solved to a great extent. Were these appointment done by non-locals forcefully? Were it done in absence of our local babus? Were it due to non-payment of favourable amount? If not, are our local candidates lesser qualified? If not, why should these opportunities be given to them, while continue to let our own people suffer? Our ‘babus’ ‘sahebs’ ‘malic’ or ‘boss’, hardly a respectable ‘Sir’, themselves appointed them in most cases and utilized their service in one’s own tune. The short-sightedness and negligence of (social) responsibility by such local educated class has brought unemployment to the present state in the State. I would confidently say, with due apology, the bureaucrats: IAS/NCS/professionals, are losing their feet in governing the public institution– the State Government. (“Yes Sir”, “Okay Sir”,…. alone, to the public leaders ‘politicians’ reflects total inefficiency and also very much indulgence in selfishness: sharing)
This is a distraction. The usual practice of appointing non-locals are said to be only a contract, adhoc, contingency, fix pay, etc at initial stage. The ‘saheb’ gives a quick reply to his own brethren that such appointments are purely temporary. Nagas being straight forward and ignorant/innocent leaves undisrupted. Such appointees, having no better option, renders their service unlimited– early and late duty, and are able to even maintain confidentiality about any unfair act of his babu. They are considered punctual, obedient, sincere, every title is awarded to them. They please their ‘sahebs’ unceasingly, knowing very well that the quantity of work load they get is a power rewarded. Babus should be aware that their behavior would surely fly to a distant land reflecting disgrace to our society. Our family affairs could not remain a privacy all these years. One most awkward practice existing in the State here is that, when Nagas, who have now been arbitrarily put under different administration/State, come seeking for a job, not even a slightest attention on their grievance is accorded or appointment is awarded. Such treatment– being rejected more than non-locals, if continued, how would one predict the future of our family?
The repercussions from appointment of non-locals in government department/agencies/undertakings in the State develop the under mentioned stages: indigenous youth desires a job– to give service to the people; they have high expectation that their dream will be acknowledged: offering opportunity; they feel disappointed when they are neglected by their own elderly ‘babus’; they feel humiliated when a non-local takes their share and live in a better position; impatience erupts and attempt to protect their integrity; failure in their fair mission frustrates them and create turmoil in the society, (regrettably) to the extent of joining arms gang, at the cost of those irresponsible ‘babus’.
Therefore, appointment of either professional or non-professional assignment, should be awarded to indigenous inhabitants ‘by blood’ of Nagaland. In case of any new appointment made against other than a local, the officer concerned should be exposed to the general public. If local candidates are found wanting, next preference should be offered to suffering Nagas from neighbouring States/Country.
The saddest part we see from those employed in the government is that many of them mismanage the public institutions taking authority and privileges into their own hands– evil masters and not servants of the public, inviting chaos in the society. Subsequently, easy money-making by unprincipled sect is one of the grievous factors causing damage to the sincere, honest and laborious strata of our society. These are, in today’s situation, the gateway to unemployment and all negativism existing in our society. Every official concerned in the government set-up has to pull up their socks, and correct the irregular system prevailing in the government. Change has to begin from the individual. The bureaucrats need to rise up, stand strong, ‘right’ be one’s shield, set exemplary functioning of governance, gather stones ‘criticism’ for construction of monument, and contribute the best of service during one’s time. This would facilitate a sense of right attitude to the public while open up unlimited opportunity for employment at all levels.
In my opinion, the broad term of employment can be attained and made to bloom in our own land, by sincerely and dedicatedly maintaining a two-way traffic: (1) educate our generation to explore the unlimited opportunities available around us; (2) discourage our local ‘babus’ on appointment of non-locals. Then, interference of external hands to exploit our available opportunities can also be controlled. The following areas shall help to create employment in the State: Church application on valued quality of life; NGO’s & community create awareness on pre-requisites: honesty, discipline, sincerity, etc and push out to fit independent or dependent means of employment; government honour our local people, focus on creation of avenues, in the meantime practice fair competition (to pull in best of the best) and comfort our youth with whichever– dependent or independent, is suitable to them for employment. Private companies and industries may also cultivate local application to suit its target from a given society.
And, now, with the General Election for Nagaland Legislative Assembly in the State round the corner, the people will have to eye at who (political party) will “bell the cat”: prioritize employment in its manifesto. It will be the wise men to wait and watch who dare come forward to draw a blue– print for employment.
Kudos to non-governmental organizations particularly the Naga Students’ Federation (NSF)– the apex students’ organization of Naga inhabited areas, for acting as a firm and reputed watchdog, particularly in Nagaland, taking up genuine issues all along. A fervent appeal is made to the NSF as well as other NGOs to remain steadfast as pressure groups to take up public welfare issues and correct the people’s government whenever need arises.
Kuknalim!
Rajuselie Lhousa
