UNEMPLOYMENT – One of the main causes which ail or burden the ‘Naga Society’. In this modem and complex world, unemployment has become a common disease, which is not warble until and unless one works very hard or one maintains the so called ‘Dignity of labour’. Unemployment is widespread in the whole of Naga society and also extends to other places among the youths and with those who are well qualified. Thus in this way the Naga society is also facing a big problem, which is leading to disintegration in society.
Unemployment can also be called as a “condition in which an individual is not in a state of reward occupation despite his desire to do so.” Though the problem of unemployment is growing in innumerable and unmanageable proportions, we do not have reliable information regarding the number of unemployed persons as a whole.
Speaking of technological unemployment, the process of automation and mechanization has caused great anxieties and insecurities for workers displacing good number of them from work. Introduction of computers can be cited here as an example. Every advance in technology virtually means today, displacement of human labour by machines.
The decline of traditional skills and the decay of small scale and cottage industries led to a great pressure on land and this in turn resulted in the greater movement of people from the rural to the urban areas. This added to urban unemployment.
Our education does not prepare the minds of our young men and women to become self-employed; on the contrary, it makes them dependent on the government to find for them some jobs. Some of our young men and women are not prepared to undertake jobs which are considered to be socially ‘degrading’ or ‘indecent’. For example, as auto rickshaw and taxi drivers, working as a salesman or salesgirl in shops, doing waiter’s work and clerical work in hotels, etc. Since the spirit of dignity and labour is not properly inculcated in them, they become the victims of ‘false prestige’ and face the risk of unemployment, regarding the students in the modern world.
Unemployment is not only a societal problem, it is also an individual problem. An unemployed youth or person loses self-respect and faces a discouraging outlook. The pitiable position of the wage owner who has lost his job for one reason or another is equally unfortunate. Unemployment damages our physical and moral health also. A person may get mental worries, anxieties and tension adversely affecting the mental health of the unemployed youth.
Unemployment causes physical hardship and mental agony not only to the individuals of employable age but also to his family members. It upsets the balance of the family life. The entire family may face uncertainty and indefiniteness. As a result, children may develop delinquent tendencies. This state of affairs may even lead to the breakdown of the family.
If unemployment is not checked or controlled it may ultimately prepare the way for social disorganization. Unemployment can also be called as a social curse and it even pollutes the economic and political fields.
Some of the measures and suggestions for a way out or to remove unemployment are as follows:-
(1) Job opportunities do not increase at same rate to accommodate the growing population. Hence, population control has to be made more popular and other suitable steps are to be taken to minimise or neutralize its growth.
(2) The main solution for unemployment lies in achieving of real importance in economic development. This can be materialized, only if attention is paid equally to agriculture and industry.
(3) Cottage and household industries play a vital role in the development of economy. Hence, they should be given due encouragement. Basket-making, bricks-making, toy-making, carpentry and furniture making, leather works and carving, such other works are to be encouraged to keep our people engaged with work that fetch economic rewards.
(4) Commercial crops can make agriculture task economically more attractive and interesting. Commercial crops such as coffee, tea, pepper, cardamom, ginger, cashew, tobacco, ground nuts, various types of vegetables and fruits etc. can bring a good sum of income to the hard working people, like in other countries. For example, USA is the largest producer of Tomato, Maize and soyabeans. China is known for Cotton, Rice, Tobacco, etc.
(5) Depending upon the local needs and practices, new agriculture programmes and projects are to be launched so that the young people of a particular area get new opportunities to use their talents and energy for the development programmes.
(6) Our education is not much job oriented. Due practical training should be given to our educated youths to help them to pursue proper guidance and information regarding new job opportunities. Employment bureaus and employment exchange agencies can play a vital role in this regard.
(7) It does not indicate or suggest that every citizen has a right to government job or the job of his choice. Promising job for all is not an easy task. So, the government should not only suggest that the right to work should be included in the fundamental rights but it should also be translated into reality.
Lastly, the problems of unemployment is growing day by day. It is becoming more and more complex also. In such a case, this complex problem will have to be tackled in a planned manner. It is possible only with the combined effort of the government and the public.
Imna Longchar BA-II
S.M College, Kashiram Ao Village
