IN May 2019, the government confirmed that India’s unemployment rate rose to 6.1 percent in 2017-18 which was at a 45 years high. As per the National statistical office (NSO) report, India’s April-June quarter GDP contracted by 23.9 ℅, the first contraction in more than 40 years. The number of unemployed people are likely to grow not just because people are failing to find Jobs, but also because several already employed are likely to lose their jobs, because of the recession in economy and unplanned lockdown imposed due to covid-19.
According to the Center for Monitoring Indian economy (CMIE’s) data, the monthly unemployment rate in April stood at 23.52% up from March’s 8.74%. CMIE’s also indicated that the urban unemployment rate in urban India in the week ending 6th Sept 2020 was at 8.32 percent.
Recently, the J&K service selection board (JKSSB) released online notifications to recruit class IV and account assistant posts which were 8575 & 1889 respectively. Around 6 lakh candidates applied for these post, indicative of the abysmal state of employment rate in Kashmir.
On Sept 17th2020, PM Modi’s birthday was celebrated as the national unemployment day by several individual and political parties with the trending hashtag “National Unemployment Day”. It marked a protest against the high unemployment rates in the country and sought to highlight Government’s failure to create jobs and provide employment.
Unemployment is the root cause of many problems. It doesn’t merely affects an individual, but has the potential to harm the economic, social and mental health of a community. There are a number of problems which are overtly or covertly related to unemployment. These are not limited to severe financial hardship or debt only but also lead to family tension, alienation, shame, stigma, stress, depression and even suicide. It’s a high time we come together and fight for better employment opportunities.
Faizan Ashraf
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