Despite govt efforts, 22 lakh still jobless

CHANDIGARH: As Punjab gears up for a job fair in Ludhiana on Sunday, a latest study reveals that there has been no public sector employment in the past 20 years. And, in private sector too, jobs are only in informal sector where the quality of work culture and earnings are not standardised.

Ruchika M Khanna

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 10

As Punjab gears up for a job fair in Ludhiana on Sunday, a latest study reveals that there has been no public sector employment in the past 20 years. And, in private sector too, jobs are only in informal sector where the quality of work culture and earnings are not standardised.

The study by Ranjit Singh Ghumman of the Centre for Research in Rural and Industrial Development (CRRID) has revealed that of the total population of 2.77 crore in Punjab, the workforce is 98.97 lakh, 22.22 lakh are totally unemployed, 15.55 lakh are seeking work and 14.46 lakh (14.61 per cent of the workforce) are marginal workers — those who work between 3-6 months a year.

Officially, the government claims that it has given jobs to over 1 lakh people in the past one year. In reality, many of those given letters in job fairs have decided not to opt for the jobs on account of low salary, while others feel they are being “under employed” in small companies.

The Ludhiana’s mega job fair, where the CM proposes to hand over letters to 9,000 youth as part of his government’s “Ghar Ghar Naukri”, is expected to be no different, even if it commemorates the Congress’ first year in office.

While officers argue that the government is making its bid to ensure employment in each house through job fairs, the youth feel that at least some MNCs should be involved.

Data available from the State level Bankers’ Committee of Punjab shows that only 954 cases have been sanctioned under Stand-Up India programme (till December 2017) and under the Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana, 71 per cent of the target has been met.

Technical Education Minister Charanjit Singh Channi, who is overseeing job fairs, told The Tribune that these fairs have led to employment of 54,000 youth. “The Congress government has helped create over 1 lakh jobs so far. Agreed that the youth think they can have better employment opportunities, but the effort made by the government should be appreciated,” he said.