Facts and figures for future

According to an official source, at a recent annual school programme, the state director of employment, skill development & entrepreneurship Kovi Meyase disclosed that Nagaland is ranked fourth among states having high unemployment rate at 9.1% against the national average of 5.2%. The figure obtained from the Annual Periodic Labour Force Survey (PFLS) 2021-22 is not constant but changes over the years. Presently, Nagaland is fourth among 36 States and UTs with the highest unemployment rate in India. Lakshadweep regained the highest status at 17.2% unemployment rate in the 15 years and above age group, while Goa was second at 12%, followed by Kerala at 9.6%. According to the information, there are over 70,000 registered job seekers of which 18,047 consisted of those below HSCL(Matric), 11,914 passed HSLC(Matric), 11,008 under Class XII, 9,219 graduates, 6,503 post-graduates, 1,722 technical degree holders and 507 diploma holders. Nagaland has a population of around 22 lakh (2022-23) and the number of persons employed is reported to be in the service or tertiary sector. The literacy rate in Nagaland is 79.55% as per the 2023 census while it is 94% in Kerala, 91.85% in Lakshwadeep and 91.33 % in Mizoram etc. The literacy rate in Nagaland evidently indicates that there has been a major transformation in the spread of education. In contemporary society, education is understood as a driving force for propelling economic development. Over the decades, it is being realised the conventional education does not meet up with the challenges and demands of far reaching economic changes taking place. Education in most states including Nagaland, are essentially meant to obtain degrees in order to be qualified for jobs. According to the a report, there are unofficially around 1,40,000 government employees which is a little over 7 % of the state’s around 22 lakh population. This makes Nagaland with the highest number of government employees in relation to its population. The next highest after Nagaland is Manipur with 65,000 employees for a population of over 25 lakhs, Sikkim with 35,000(population-6,19,000); Arunachal Pradesh with 45,000 (population-13,82,611); Meghalaya with 55,000 (population-29,64,007) and Mizoram with 40,603 (population-10,91,014). The unemployment problem in Nagaland has been compounded because the state’s economy is on unsure ground. Besides lack of viable industries there is restricted opportunities for investments in private enterprises owing to the insecurity. Since private enterprise is the key, the quantum of jobs likely to be created within a time frame through some ventures, should be explored uregently. However, private enterprise can only thrive in a congenial environment but absence of which, has had a negative impact on the growth of the economy. A long term objective needs to be spelt out and action taken in this regard. This includes the necessity of decisively implementing an economic vision that can be sustained to bring long term benefits to the people. Huge funds for projects meant for developments have been spend during the past decades but only benefitted a handful. More jobs can come if private enterprises are thriving but instead the double-engine evils of corruption and extortions are negating economic progress. These are destroying the future and only ensure that progress and prosperity will continue to elude the future generation unless something drastic is done.