New Delhi
As one does not pretend to be intellectual always and do not carry a so-called
pro-ultra urban Naxalite approach up the sleeves, I often get the 'Modi Bhakt' tag rather liberally.
But I am also an admirer of Gujarati work culture. Now comes Prime Minister's announcement that in next 18 months - 10 lakh government jobs will be created.
Predictably the Congress party has ridiculed the announcement calling
it a gimmick.
Even for the 'Gujarat Model', the Congress never had a high opinion.
But with regard the new announcement, the Prime Minister had to do something about this.
The promise of 'Acchey Din' in 2014 essentially revolved around jobs.
Nevertheless, the ruling dispensation had other data support. The BJP's internal report card in 2019 on the eve
of elections quoted various organisations such as the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation
and claimed that at least 15 million (1.5 lakh) new jobs were created every year under the
Modi government between 2014 and 2019.
Joblessness like every year was debated in the 2019 general elections as well but the voters
gave Modi a massive mandate.
Late Arun Jaitley, PM Modi's first 'achhey din' Finance Minister, used to say that in the changing global scenario
- there is a need to make India a knowledge-based productive society.
In this, he said - three things ought to taken up together - Education, Skill Development and then the Job Creation.
A BJP think tank - the New Delhi-based Public Policy Research Centre had said that 14.62 million jobs have
been created in the tourism sector alone between 2015 and 2019.
Likes of Jaitley also believed that the era of looking at the government and PSUs for jobs is over
and rightly so.
Jobs in India are created by SMEs, by the micro industries, by self employment.
This is a tough proposition for northeast.
Babudom is in Indian blood. As one shuttles between places in the name of journalism, a question often
heard is - "we thought you are in a senior position now, why should you travel so much. Send your
juniors".
This is a simple and raw illustration. But skills-related issues come into play.
Those who ask such questions have no idea about journalism. But what they know is if you are
somebody in an organisation, you should sit like a boss and get the tag 'Dev babu' and generally
prefer 10 to 5 job ordering others and take liberty to buy fish while returning home.
My point is the very approach towards jobs should change. Home sickness is another malady.
I know of youths in Nagaland, Tripura and West Bengal - who would hate to move out of home towns
and yet indulge in gossip about joblessness. With Bengalis - it's worse - "Haryana teh macch paua jae
(Do you get fish in Haryana?)". If not, why should my 'laadla' son go there?
Such scenarios are rare to exist in the western Indian state. Youths think like entrepreneurs right from
the age they 'start' thinking.
Modi's 'StartUp India' slogan is technically a second or a third step for even a non-Gujarati youth.
Next is on the policy front. Communalism tag goes easy with Gujarat leaders. Such tags never struck
the then Manipur CM Ibobi Singh, who did not allow Thuingaleng Muivah an opportunity to visit his native
village in 2010.
In Meghalaya, trains and tea gardens were opposed in the 1980s fearing Dwakhers would enter.
All Gujarat Chief Ministers since 1995 (even a few non-BJP ones) have been pro-corporate.
At people's level, the masses always had the hunger for social uplift and general improvement in the quality of life.
This is in contrast to Marxists culture of Bengal or Tripura - where generally poverty and underdevelopment would
be glorified. Even Agartala airport looked in shambles even a few years back.
For years 'Calcutta' suffered from power load-shedding during peak of summer.
The Leftists looked the other way and the entire state suffered from attack from the armies of flies and
mosquitoes. Bengalis found solace in poetry.
In Kerala, the joke is - milkman wonder of Amul, Verghese Kurein (a native of that state) did not want to
do anything there, because there "are so many Malayalis" in that province.
People in Bengal or Kerala have typical 'crab syndrome'. These things are usually found in northeast and
closer home in towns and hamlets also.
Noted Dimapurian Late Manik Bhattacharjee used to say - "One big problem with people in north east
is the moment you try to do some thing new and innovative, first observaton is - he must be earning a lot.
The next question is how much and what is my benefit".
Have things changed ? If not, they ought to.
In terms of policy, in Gujarat, economic reform does not mean gross privatisation.
Narendra Modi as the Chief Minister and his successors promoted
corporate sector but kept eyes on social welfarism. The state government officials really play
facilitators. These moved things fast.
In Nagaland, for politicians having good relations with a business magnate is out of question.
Though for practical purpose, they do have.
No businessman wants to risk his money and yet be ready made milking cows.
During our time, 'shiltu boys' was a description for young hooligans in Dimapur who
could rob your wrist watch or demand a few hundred rupees notes. Once a Lotha AIR official
suffered the tantrum at the Blue Hill Bus point.
There is graduation at that level too. I am told, envelopes are quite normal. Some coal mine owners
wanted to visit Nagaland once.
Knowing this scribe's 'Nagaland background', a few of them asked - if I could guarantee against Shiltu-ism.
I just had a good laugh.
ends
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