Dzüvinuo Theünuo
A DIPR feature
The total number of non-Naga workforce earning their livelihood in Kohima, Dimapur and Mokokchung is estimated at 45,815 with an annual income of Rs. 450.60 crores. This translates to an average annual and monthly per capita income of Rs. 98,352 and Rs. 8,196 respectively. These findings were arrived at in a study conducted the Directorate of Evaluation, Government of Nagaland during July to October 2006, and published in June 2007. The Department had selected Kohima, Dimapur and Mokokchung as sample districts, wherein 13,380 establishments/shops/units operated and run by non-Nagas as well as Nagas were covered and surveyed.
It was found that Dimapur has the largest non-Naga workforce with 32,700 persons earning an annual income of Rs. 351.85 crores, followed by Kohima with a workforce of 10,900 earning an annual income of Rs. 89.98 crores while Mokokchung has a workforce of 2,215 non-Nagas earning Rs. 8.77 crores annually. The study was conducted in 78 different trades ranging from agriculture, trading and manufacturing to the service sector.
The overall female-male employment ratio of these non-Naga workforce is 1:6 with 6182 females and 39,633 males, in the age group 15 to 60 years. Only about 30% of the group are graduates and above, while 70% of the workforce is in the range of class 5 to pre-university/higher secondary level. The total earnings of the skilled workforce of these three sample blocks is estimated at Rs. 266.97 crores while that of the unskilled labour is at Rs. 183.61 crores.
The annual income of the non-Nagas in Dimapur was the highest with Rs. 351.85 crores followed by Kohima with Rs. 89.98 crores and Mokokchung with Rs. 8.77 crores. This translates into an average annual income of about Rs. 1,07,601 and monthly income of Rs. 8,967 per person in Dimapur, an annual average earning of Rs. 82,533 and monthly income of Rs. 6,879 in Kohima and an average annual income of Rs. 39,580 and monthly income of Rs. 3,298 per person in Mokokchung.
Construction sector has the highest non-Naga workforce comprising of 4,099 persons engaged in construction activity with total annual earning of Rs. 22 crores and an annual per capita earning of Rs. 53,402. The growth of the construction industry has propelled employment in this sector and this has been capitalized by the non-Naga workforce.
This sector is followed by the loading and unloading sector with 4,012 persons earning their livelihood through loading and unloading of goods in the railway station, bus stations and godowns. The annual income of this group is estimated at Rs. 33 crores with an annual average per capita income of Rs. 82,192. These two sectors alone account for revenue income of Rs. 55 crores per year.
The third largest workforce of the non-Nagas is in the trading and entrepreneurial activity. Running of pan/gumti shops and its ancillary activities provides employment to 2,780 persons who earn an annual income of Rs. 24 crores and is the sector with the third largest workforce. This followed by those engaged in running grocery/ration shops with 2,659 persons, earning Rs. 79 crores annually. The study indicates that amongst the various classification of enterprises, the earnings of persons running grocery/ration trades is the highest with an average annual income of about Rs. 3 lakhs per year per unit. The fifth largest workforce is in the service sector with 2,514 persons engaged in plying thelas/handcarts and rickshaws earning Rs. 9 crores annually. The catering/hotel and restaurant industry which is also a service providing sector with a workforce of 2,257 persons in the sixth largest employment of non-Nagas.
The service sector alone accounts for an annual turnover of about Rs. 150 crores out of total annual turnover of Rs. 450 crores for the non-Nagas, providing income to the 24,426 non Nagas. The total earnings of the 4,012 loading and loading labourers with Rs. 33 crores is the highest, followed by the construction sector (with the highest number of non-Nagas workforce of 4,099) with an annual turnover of Rs. 21 crores. The third largest revenue earning sector is the hotel and restaurant sector with an annual income of Rs. 13 crores with a non-Naga workforce of 2,257. The fourth highest income generator is the automobile workshop segment with Rs. 9.5 crores annual returns for 1,510 persons engaged in this activity. The per capita returns from this sector is the highest with an annual income of Rs. 84,699. Plying of thelas/hand carts and rickshaws which is practical only in Dimapur generates an annual turnover of Rs. 9.3 crores and is the fifth highest income earning sector with the third largest non-Naga workforce in the service sector with 2,514 persons. Employment is the operation of automobiles with a workforce of 1,271 persons is ranked the sixth highest income generating source with an annual income of Rs. 8.7. crores.
The study indicates that except for a few persons employed in the automobile workshops/servicing centres and in restaurants, the workforce in the service sectors are largely unskilled. Most of the skilled workforce have acquired their skills from observation, hands-on training, induction into the trade at a young age, taking up or changing employment as per their ability and fair. The necessity to earn sustainable livelihood, willingness and responsibility towards their profession has further honed their skills.
Out of the Rs 450 crores accruing to non-Nagas in a year, entrepreneurial activities accounts for an income of Rs 300 crores. Amongst the business enterprise, the high turn over sectors/enterprises are those dealing in cosmetics, textiles, pan shops, grocery/essential items, hardware, electronics, consumer durables and automobile parts. More than 50% of these are operated by non-Nagas.
Assuming that 40% of the total annual earnings of the non-Nagas is retaining in the state as cost of living of the 45,815 non-Nagas work force, an amount of Rs. 270.36 crores would be the annual outflow of revenue from within the state. This translates to 36% of the State’s annual plan outlay of Rs. 760 crores (2006-07 Plan outlay). In terms of employment 45,815 opportunities can be assumed to have been foregone by the Nagas while the number of unemployed Nagas has risen. As on 31st March 2006, 46,252 unemployed youths are in the registered list of the Employment Exchange. Actual figure of unemployed persons would be much more taking into account the number of unregistered unemployed youth.
The survey indicates that income levels of many unskilled non-Naga employees are higher than that of the many government employees in Nagaland. As Additional Chief Secretary and Development Commissioner, Lalthara has stated in the Foreword “The findings of this study should serve as a wake up call for the Nagas and make them realize the opportunities lost in terms of employment and income due to our biased attitude towards taking up certain types of manual jobs, and thereby arouse the minds of our youth towards self-introspection, a change in their mindset”.
