The call by the Union
Finance Minister, P Chidambaram,
to the youth who migrate to USA or elsewhere in the world to return
after spending few years in other parts of the world to meet challenges of
their own country is ill-conceived.
India has the largest reservoir of economically active age group
population in the world. But due to
unemployment a large proportion of this age group is not economically active.
According to a recent report (October 2010) by Labour Bureau, in the 28
States/UTs surveyed, the total
population is estimated at 1182 million with 63.5 per cent population
(751 million) in the working age group of 15-59 years. The worker population
ratio is 325 persons per 1000 population at the overall level and 465 in the
working age population (i.e. 15-59 age groups). Thus, out of the total
estimated population of 1182 million, 384 million constituted the
working population ( employed persons). The
unemployment rate in 2009-10 is estimated at 9.4 per cent at the overall level
as per the usual principal status. In the rural sector, the unemployment rate
is around 10 per cent, while in the urban areas the unemployment rate is about
8 percent persons out of 1000 persons in the labour force. Moreover, according
to National Sample Survey Office (NSSO), over half the country's workforce is
self-employed and women receive less pay than men for similar jobs. While 51%
of the country's total workforce is self-employed, only 15.5% are regular
wagers or salaried employees and 33.5% casual labourers. The number of people
self-employed is higher in rural areas at about 54.2%, against 41.4% in urban
areas. Moreover, according to National Sample Survey Office (NSSO), over half
the country's workforce is self-employed and women receive less pay than men
for similar jobs. While 51% of the country's total workforce is self-employed,
only 15.5% are regular wagers or salaried employees and 33.5% casual labourers.
Moreover, many of those in the economically active age group lack skills. So
skill development is the need of the hour. All out efforts should be made
to impart skill to the youngsters. .At the same time, India is not able to
provide suitable employment to all the qualified and skilled persons.
Therefore, many of them migrate to USA and other countries in search of better
pastures. Some of them stay back in the host countries. When there is no dearth
of manpower, asking them to return and end
up in odd jobs is meaningless.
Dr. C.Murukadas, The Times of India, Dec.2,
2012.
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