Skip to content Skip to navigation

Unemloyment in Assam and ULFA

Unemployment is a burning problem in the country and Assam is no exception. The ever growing population has made it extremely difficult for the government to provide jobs for every educated youth. Educated unemployed are rapidly flooding the state. Government jobs have become a pipe dream. Here arises the need of introducing vocational training courses in our syllabi from an early stage in schools itself which will help the youth to be self sufficient rather than awaiting for that coveted dream job.

Unlike other states the Northeast and Assam in particular has been deprived of private companies and Multi national Companies who shy away from investing in the region due to extremism. For the proscribed ULFA’s questionable activities have left no room for private investments by any companies in the state. Extortion, kidnappings, bomb blasts are not exactly conducive for industrialization or any progressive work. The perfunctory tug of war between the government and the ULFA has in turn victimized the local youth and deprived them of a secure future. If such a trend continues for long then those few companies that have braved the hostile conditions will ultimately be forced to relocate and further aggravate the unemployment problem.

Albeit population explosion is another major factor for unemployment but terrorism is a direct cause for this growing problem and vice versa. For lack of jobs push the youth to join extremist groups to earn a fast buck which in turn act as deterrent to employment avenues.

There are over 15 lakh unemployed in the state. According to the state’s latest economic survey report the number of unemployed per 1,000 people in Assam is 21 in the rural areas against 5 persons at the All India level. Similarly the number of unemployed per 1,000 people in urban areas in the state is 20 against 14 people at an all India level. The government is not sitting idle but has given serious thought to curb this problem which is also the prime cause of insurgency. The government is allegedly going to implement a Rs 11 crore job generation scheme aimed at minimizing the problem. The scheme is said to be formulated on the lines of the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyaan.

We Indians play the blame game really well for whenever things go awry we conveniently blame the next person in this case government. Extremism is definitely a major deterrent but it is not the end of the world.

The social scenario in Assam is a volatile one at least it appears to be so to people in the heartland of our country. The media too is agog with reports of violence and mayhem giving the impression of a prevailing tension in the region as a result of which investments in the region are sparse and far between.

Therefore in such a catch 22 situation the youth can take up self employment avenues such as start small scale industries or take up sericulture, pisiculture, weaving etc. The options are many but there is a dearth of proper vision and attitude among our youth. The Banks are always there to fall back upon provided one is armed with a little patience and forbearance.

Sadly a small step forward proves to be futile when insurgent factors destabilize the development process and take us four steps backwards. The recent kidnapping and subsequent killing of FCI official PC Ram is a dastardly act that should be condemned by all. Such incidents push Assam further into the labyrinths of underdevelopment and the wheel of progress comes to a standstill.

Rituparna Goswami Pandey

Comments

mitu's picture

Good insight into the actual problem. When would Assam solve unemployment

Pages

Add new comment

Other Contents by Author

Over 300 youths marched through the streets of Sivasagar town on Wednesday to protest government failure to take action on the army jawan involved in the recent molestation in Demow. Baring their pants, the young protesters representing 22 organizations marched through the streets of the town. Later they held a meeting outside the Deputy Commissioner's office. They were joined by hundreds of bystanders. Then they were stopped from entering the DC's office premises by police personnel who set up barricades. The organizations include ATASU, TMPK, AASU, AJYCP, KMSS) and Brihattar Asomiya Parishad. They said that they would continue the agitation programme till all till the demands are met.
The CPI(M) has accused Dispur of a huge failure in firmly dealing with the situation to stop escalating violence in Assam. It asked the government to take immediate steps to restore law and order. In a statement, the called the failure a monumental one of the Congress-led Government.
Delhi on Wednesday directed Dispur to nab the ring leaders involved in ethnic clash in BTAD areas. Further, it ruled out a Bangladeshi hand in the entire episode where 42 people lost their lives. According to Union Home Secretary R K Singh, 2,000 central security personnel have been deputed to guard Guwahati-bound trains and railway tracks which were disrupted.Singh said that the international border is sealed and that it was impossible for any intruders to foment trouble from across the border. Around 2,500 paramilitary personnel have reached Assam to assist the local administration.
In a bid to bring the situation under control in Kokrajahr, Chirang and Dhubri, the Centre is all prepared to talk to the leaders of the both warring factions. According t sources, two senior home ministry officials are all set to hold talks with the Bodo leaders and minority leaders on Wednesday or Thursday in Dhubri and Kokrajhar. Around 1,500 more paramilitary personnel have been rushed in with orders to shoot at sight.
Around 1,50,000 people fled their homes at the height of the group clash after it erupted on Friday last. The displaced people, mostly, have taken shelter in government schools and buildings. Over 10,000 people in these trouble torn districts have escaped to neighbouring West Bengal. Trucks carrying essential supplies are remaining stranded halfway. In Guwahati, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi held a meeting of government officials, including the chief secretary, to monitor the situation.
In the continuing orgy of violence, 6 more people were killed taking the death toll to 41 in Kokrajhar and Chirang districts on Wednesday. Kokrajhar district administration has relaxed curfew from 8 in the morning to 12 noon. But only to be reimposed indefinitely. Curfew has also been extended indefinitely in Chirang and Dhubri districts.With 13,000 troops, army staged flag march in Kokrajhar, Chirang, Dhubri and Bongaigaon district in presence of a magistrate.
An all party delegation of the Assam legislative assembly is on a stock taking visit to Kokrajhar on Wednesday.Indefinite curfew is still in force in some parts of Dhubri and Chirang. Army and Para military forces have intensified patrolling in the violence hit districts. Union Home Secretary R.K. Singh had earlier said that he has been in continuous touch with the Chief Secretary and the Assam Director General of Police.
The orgy of violence ravaging three districts of lower Assam spreads to the Bengal border. Thousands of people from scores of villages are fleeing to safer places in West Bengal during the last couple of days. Around 1,500 more paramilitary personnel have been deployed in Kokrajhar, Chirang and Dhubri districts with shoot at sight orders. More than 1 lakh people have been displaced. These displaced people, mostly, shifted to 55 relief camps. The Army staged a flag march on Wednesday morning in Dhubri, Kokrajhar, Chirang and Bongaigaon, the first since violence began four days ago.
The Army on Wednesday began flag marches in a bid to ring the situation under control. Moreover, night curfew are still in force three days after it was clamped to control the situation. Tensions between Bodos and Muslims over control of land and settlements have been simmering for a long time. The violence has spread to 400 villages in the Bodoland Territorial Administered Districts.
Violence spreads diabolic tentacles in five lower Assam districts killing at least 38 besides displacing around 1 lakh people till Wednesday. Four more people were killed in two incidents of shoot outs in Chirang district taking up the death toll to 40. There are reports of fresh incidents in both the districts where hundreds of abandoned houses were burnt down in scores of villages in Kokrajhar, Chirang and Dhubri districts. It was learnt that Meghalaya governor RS Mushahary’s native village was also not spared.