News report appearing in the local daily carried some spine chilling news for the educated youths of the state, wherein the Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio went public announcing ban to be imposed on creation of new posts in the state. The Chief Minister categorically stated that the major part of the state resources was being drained out owing to the salary payment of the government employees and that the government was over burdened because of over staffing pattern. It is evidently clear from this statement that the state government is no longer in a position to provide jobs to the educated young people. And of course we are already know too well that the only job recruiting agency, the NPSC, is in deep crisis, rocked by bribery, corruption, scams, irregularities and many other charges. Now the moot questions are: Where will the hundreds of educated Nagas find jobs? Who will employ them? Are the youths equipped to take up with different types of services? The future seems to be grim, really.
People are nowadays increasingly realizing that education system in the country has failed to meet the aspirations of the individuals, requirements of the society and the needs of the economy. One of the important factors identified for this failure is due to the inability of the educational institutions to equip the students for gainful employment after completion of their studies i.e. after matriculation, higher secondary, bachelor’s degree or post-graduation degree. At this point it is pertinent to recall Mahatma Gandhi, who long time ago, rightly advocated the view that “any education that was not relevant to the need of society disqualified itself to be labeled as education.” Sadly independent India is faced with unemployment problem and there seems to be no quick solution.
One educationist in despair stated “today teaching and learning process in our schools and colleges are hopelessly casual. The students hardly ask themselves the need of education. The curriculum rarely gives any room for innovation and creativity; rather it kills innovative minds of the youths. Educational institutions churn out only government job-seekers.” Surely, it is because of this state of affairs in the educational system that led to the rise of unemployment problem in the country. Social evils and tensions and insurgency are quite related to unemployment. Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in his speech at the Asian Summit held in October, 2003, stated “the only solution to the problem of unemployment lies in entrepreneurship and self-employment.”
Entrepreneurship as defined by A. H Cole is “the purposeful activity of an individual or group of associate individuals undertaken to initiate profit by production or distribution of economic goods and services.” Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship at Guwahati, defines it as “new way of thinking and seeing a new business opportunity and capitalizing on it through new business venture.” It is said that the effects of such persons (entrepreneurs) from that of a small industry becomes over a period of time a dynamic industry and accelerate the process of economic growth. Some say enterprises are the engines of economic growth. Entrepreneurship is thus the corner stone of the emerging economic scene in the world. It is well known that USA, Japan, China, Taiwan, South Korea and now Thailand achieved economic development due to the tremendous efforts of the entrepreneurs. It is said in America two/third of the high school students between age 13 to 18 are currently employed or having part .time-job. Youths are employed in a variety of occupations, including casual employment such as baby sitting, lawn care etc.
In North East or say Nagaland, unemployment or the number of educated unemployed youths are alarmingly increasing year by year. The existing conventional syllabus with examination oriented teaching, coupled with near-absence of entrepreneurial spirit in the society, the available talents, potentials and vigours of the youths are channelized to non-productive areas, the foremost being total dependence on salaried government service. It is take a government job mentality. Recently on 9th September 2005, speaking before the large gathering of the students of Patkai Christian College, as Chief Guest at the 31st Annual Social, T.R Zeliang, M.P Rajya Sabha, lamented that many educated youths in Naga society are disturbed for fear of being unemployed as most of them have the mentality to opt for only government jobs. It is true, with liberal Arts and Science degree (BA & B. Sc) our students are not armed with employable degrees. Simply say the hard earned degrees are irrelevant or almost useless to the needs of the market or the society. The students are rarely encouraged to think seriously or independently about the future career prospects, nor are they equipped or oriented to set goals and work towards them. Most of our students hardly bother to think of career options. They would simply depend on their parents to decide or choose for them. Even most of the senior students when asked, what next after graduation? they would smile and shyly say “my parents will decide for me.” Some will answer, “after seeing my Part-II University results”. By the time the results are out, as usual in the middle of July, most of the PG admission across the country would be closed, let alone applying for form, getting through the three stages of admission like written test, personality test and group discussion. Parents back at home generally want their children to take up salaried government services. In fact, our society gives higher status and recognition to the salaried persons working in the government offices, than to any successful self-employed or entrepreneurs.
Today in Nagaland more than 90% of the entrepreneurial activities are conducted by non-Nagas. A visit to all district headquarters in the state will establish the fact. Dimapur the only commercial hub, the pride of the state, linked with air and rail services is just like any town in Bengal or Bihar. The ever increasing population of the non-locals from different parts of India and the unabated’ inflow of illegal immigrants for Bangladesh already outnumbered the local Nagas. They are into brisk business, thriving commercial activities, selling anything and providing services. The locals on the other hand are wholly reduced to buyers and completely dependent on the services of the outsiders. The markets (business) is completely controlled and managed by the outsiders. The net result is there is no circulation of money or wealth within the people or in the state. The few industrial units are defunct and so are termed as sick units. But who cares? Just blame it on the government is the attitude. It is said economic growth and industrial development in any state or region depends on sincere and purposeful participation of the people in entrepreneurship activities. According to Rahul Bajaj, the CEO of Bajaj Auto, “if we could have one entrepreneur in every family, India’s economy will sky rocket and India could take a rightful place as economic super nation. Because, entrepreneurs create jobs, goods, services and wealth. It is high time we change our mindset and encourage the young people to have determination to so something for the society.
Given the reality that the state government is adopting down sizing policy and imposing ban on creating new jobs, as noted above, the future prospects for the young people longing for government services is gloomy. The prime need of the hour is first to bring about change in the attitude of individuals, families, society and institutions. There is nothing bad in getting government service, but obsession with government jobs must be discouraged instead encourage entrepreneurship and self employment. In other words, to convert the mentality of the government job seekers into job creators or from dependency on government jobs to independent job providers. The foremost task is to incorporate entrepreneurship in the education curriculum. That is to say, to operationalize the entrepreneurship concept in the educational system there by preparing students for self-employment and self-reliance. It is understood that the short supply of entrepreneurs in the society is mainly due to the absence of entrepreneurship element in the educational system. The role of teachers as change agents is crucially important. To create awareness among the students, stimulating creativity and innovation and instilling entrepreneurial spirit will in the long run pay rich dividends. There is every reason to be proud of even if just a mere 5% of the entire student population in an institute takes up entrepreneurship and be successful. That would be a priceless service to the society. Media, especially print media can play instrumental role in moulding the minds of the people. If the local newspaper could afford to dedicate to publish supplementary on any day of the week on entrepreneurship, it will create mass awareness and generate interest in the subject. By nurturing entrepreneurship in our society unemployment problem can be to large extend minimized, economic activities and growth will be attained.
