Unemployment in Nagaland is a real problem. That is undeniable. Same goes with Mokokchung. Just the other day, the Deputy Commissioner of Mokokchung was talking about how educated youths should be promoted or encouraged to think beyond government jobs at a much needed workshop organized in Mokokchung by Indian Institute of Packaging, Kolkata. Then, the very next day, about 50,000 educated youths appeared for 600 grade 3 posts under the government of Nagaland, including 2028 candidates in Mokokchung district.
We have been talking about arresting the unemployment problem and a lot of leaders have been talking about it for years on end. While their concern and intention is appreciated, the unfortunate reality is that the situation is not improving. It is a scenario where we know the problem but have no idea how to solve it. We also know the effects of unemployment – crime, corruption, nepotism and favourism, high dependency, drug abuse and alcoholism. We know the effects of unemployment and the relationship between creation of opportunities and the growth of the economy. We know the cause, we know the effects, but we don’t know how to solve it. That is the conundrum we are facing today.
According to the Department of Labour & Employment, Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, Government of Nagaland, the state has the highest unemployment rate in the Northeast and second highest in the country. Also, as per the latest Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) for 2020-21 released by the Union Ministry of Statistics and Program Implementation (MoSPI), the unemployment rate in Nagaland was 19.2% in age group of 15 years and above. The survey also found that the unemployment rate among the youth of 15-29 years in the state was 55.2%.
The state government has not been able to do much to address the problem. The alarming unemployment problem is the cause why so many of our young graduates are demoralized. It is so high that in every 10 young people, close to 4 are jobless with educational qualifications. Unfortunately, despite the known fact that the unemployment problem is right in front of its nose, the state government does not have the will to solve it. We know that the problem is there, but in order to solve it we must understand the problem. Unlike other places in India, the causes of unemployment in Nagaland are not driven by caste or religious factors or overpopulation. Therefore, proper research must be done to understand the causes of unemployment in Nagaland and the solutions that can be put in place to mitigate the problem.
We have to do something immediately to address the unemployment problem and we have to begin somewhere. Perhaps, doing a proper research is the first thing we need to do. The government should invite experts to research the causes and reasons of unemployment, suggest remedial measures and find the solution. If the government is not forthcoming, may be the church or civil society organizations can take the initiative but research we must. We know that we are ailing but we need the right diagnosis to treat the ailment. We need empirical research and analysis.