Jobs For Seven Lac Unemployed

Free Thinker *

Production of 'Yu' at Andro :: Pix - Nelson Elangbam / Rajkumar Somorjit

Apart from extortion, kidnapping/abduction for ransom, gun-running, smuggling, black-marketing, theft, looting, robbery etc., it is high time to explore other employment opportunities (which are legal) for our people particularly for the educated youth.

Out of 27 lac people of the State more than 7 lac are educated unemployed. This number is pretty high. It is out of question to provide employment to all these educated unemployed. At present the State government has less than one lac government employees including the pensioners. At the most the State government can generate employment only for few thousands. We don't have big industries, companies or multinationals which can employ all these people. Then what is the way out?

FLEEING THE STATE

Thousands of our educated youth have fled the state in search of jobs. In the metropolitan and cosmopolitan cities they are doing odds jobs for survival. Many are working in call centers; others are working as sales men or girls or waiters and waitresses. Those who are lucky they have got white collar-jobs. Those who are extremely lucky they have entered the elite services. But their numbers are very few.

Most of our educated unemployed youth are still in the State. They are really frustrated. In despair, many have become drug addicts and alcoholics; and many have become anti-social elements. This is the most unfortunate . Then what is the way out?

NGOs ARE AN INDICATION

Thousands of our educated youth are involved with the activities of various NGOs in the State. This is a positive indication, showing that our youth want to work in a proper way. Some of them have come together and start their NGOs. However the success rate of our NGOs is extremely low. Only a few of them are doing well. It is surprising to know that Manipur has the highest number of NGOs as compared to other North-Eastern States.

It may be an exaggeration to say that every locality has an NGO and in a particular hill district every household has an NGO. I have no problem with the NGOs as they working for the society as well as bringing money to the state and as long as they are providing some kind of jobs to our people. But the primary issue is how long can we survive like this, begging from the national or international agencies. Then what is the way out?

NEED AN ECONOMIC REVOLUTION

Am I bit anachronistic to talk about that an economic revolution in the State. I strongly believe that we don't need to wait for others to come and help us out. We need to act ourselves. We all need to come together and work in tandem. Am I too optimistic about my own people? I have no choice but to rely on them. Come on IBOBI Sir, come on O.N Singh sab, please take the initiative and please take the risk. I know you also believe in the idea of an economic boom based on our indigenous 'Yu'. Don't be misguided by myopic and feeble minds. Let us open up now. Dry state status is indeed a bane for us. Let us lift the prohibition now.

Not only that let us start giving local-liquor manufacturing, packaging, marketing and exporting licenses to our people in a massive way. Let us revolutionize our local brew industry in a big way.

Let it grow like mushroom. But no multinational should be allowed to exploit our indigenous 'Yu'. Let it grow in our cottages or in every locality. Manufacturing and packaging for exports must be done in a professional way.

There is no shame in it , rather it will be be 'khul ja sim sim' of our fortune. Believe me most of us shall become well to do. Lacs of people will be working and associated with this local brew industry. Feni does not destroy Goa, Vodka does not destroy Russia, Champaign does not destroy France, Sikkim Rum does not destroy Sikkim, rather all these alcoholic drinks bring prosperity to the people and their land.

So certainly our 'Yu' will bring pride and prosperity to both our land and the people.

Vi Ve La 'Yu'.