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The Maharashtra government’s employment drive held in Nagpur last weekend, which coincided with the ongoing Winter Session of the state Assembly that began on December 7, was a strategic move to address the burning issue of joblessness and resultant unrest among youths. The two-day initiative saw 11,097 youths getting recruited for various jobs.
The drive, organised by the skill, employment and industries department as part of the Namo Maharozgar Yojana, provided the biggest-ever platform to the private sector in multiple industries. From hotel management and agriculture to IT, companies could choose eligible individuals from the large pool of candidates who had applied.
By undertaking the employment drive, the state government was able to partially take out the steam from the arguments of the Opposition which was getting ready to corner the Maha Yuti – led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, and his deputies Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar – on the issue.
Of the nearly 62,000 individuals who had registered for the drive, 38,511 appeared for personal interviews. At least 553 companies handed over appointment letters to eligible candidates on the spot.
Later, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said, “The response to Namo Maha Rozgar Yojana was overwhelming. It led to a record recruitment of 11,097. The scale of enrolment was huge… At least five individuals got jobs with a pay package of Rs 10 lakh and some received a package of Rs 6.5 lakh.”
“All those who enrolled but could not get jobs will be considered as per their requirements and ability,” he added. The employment drive was particularly beneficial for youths who live in remote distant villages.
The state skill development department is set to organise more such job drives in different regions. A senior cabinet minister said, “The youth constitute the backbone of every society. When the state government addresses their concerns, problems are resolved.”
The root issue: Agriculture crisis
The state’s agriculture crisis has led many rural youths to explore opportunities outside villages and in non-farming sectors, as pointed out by political observers. However, when they face a lack of proper options, they turn to protests.
The Maratha reservation protests led by Manoj Jarange Patil is cited as one such example. Unemployed youths in the Marathwada region have rallied around Patil, hoping that reservation would resolve their employment problems.
With 55 per cent of the population still engaged in agriculture activities in Maharashtra, the sector provides livelihood to the largest number of people. Agriculture and allied activities provide both employment and economic welfare for those in rural Maharashtra. But unseasonal rain and hailstorm have adversely affected the harvest and led to financial losses for farmers.
Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana president Raju Shetti says, “Apart from climatic challenges, the wrong policies of the Centre and state often impact farmers.”
Citing the example of onion farmers, he said, “In less than six months, the Centre took two ad hoc decisions detrimental to onion growers. First, in August they imposed 40 per cent duty on onion exports. It was unfair. Last week, they banned the export of onions. The decision will have far-reaching ramifications, causing bad fluctuation in prices and losses to farmers,” he lamented.
The scenario is equally worrisome in Vidarbha and Marathwada with soyabean and cotton crops hit by rain and hailstorm.
According to farmers’ leader Vijay Jawandia, the state government cannot avoid extending sustained financial support to the agriculture sector. “It will have to provide higher MSP to ensure that farmers recover their investment. The much-discussed Swaminathan Commission Report remains on paper. Unless the government enforces the recommendations, farmers’ upliftment and better livelihood will remain a challenge,” he explained.
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