Boosting morale of job seekers
- The People's Chronicle Editorial :: April 22, 2025 -

AGREED that there is no paucity of jobs in the state for those who truly want to work, but one can't blame the educated youth for seeking a better source of livelihood instead of engaging in manual works as the core purpose of pursuing higher education is to a live a decent life and with worldly comfort, if possible.

However, it is heartening to hear, Ng Uttam, who is director of MAHUD and IPR, exhorting the youth not to be choosy and enlivening the spirit the job-seekers by stating that there is no job for those who are indolent and unambitious, but plenty of opportunities for people who bear the qualities of perseverance and have steely resolve to overcome any obstacle.

Speaking as the chief guest at the 18th foundation day of Kanglei Economic Development Organisation (KEDO); one of the organisations upholding dignity of labour, the director stressed the need for one to understand own talent and choose the career of choice, while expressing remorse over people giving up under the excuse of having no work without even making an effort.

There might be people who aren't able to withstand challenges faced in landing and securing a decent job, but it is equally important to note that with Manipur frequently in the grip of adversities of varied magnitude, one of the states with the lowest GDP, the economy primarily centring on salaries of the government employees and periodical publication of employment exchanges showing confirming enrolment of lakhs of job seekers, there is no doubt that only the most resilient have a better chance to stride past the challenges.

Moreover, with the government pinning hope on the new Education Policy, which mainly prioritises vocational education, to resolve the burgeoning problem of unemployment, one must accept that there is a valid reason for the youth expressing remorse over lack of job opportunity commensurate with their educational qualification.

At the national level, a new concept of 'earn while you learn' is gaining momentum as it combines vocational education and skillstraining with practical on-the-job experience, giving students the opportunity to gain real-world work experience while continuing their studies.

While such an approach is essential to make vocational education and skills training more meaningful and relevant tothe demands of the job market, in the context of Manipur, which is lagging far behind in terms of existence of industrial units, there is limited scope for fruition of the 'earn while you learn' scheme.

Apart from a handful of both major and ordinary commercial outlets in the state providing job opportunities to the students, and some industrious students doubling up as street food kiosk operators after school and college hours, the fact remains that no student would want to end up as salespersons.

Moreover, regardless of the Ministry of Tourism currently implementing "Earn While You Learn" scheme to promote valuable tourism travel skills and knowledge among trainees and enable them to serve as student volunteers, the negligible tourism footfall in a perennially restive state like Manipur renders such a noble scheme infeasible.

Notably, the private school sector emerging as the largest creator of jobs speaks volume about the existence of educated youth but lack of employment opportunities in the other sectors.

Thus, till the time the industrial sector flourishes, and there is significant number of private enterprises capable of creating jobs in bulk, the problem of unemployment will continue to persist.