And for a Friday as the heat wave issue is getting solved with pre-monsoon showers, there is no solution to problems of mismatch of job opportunities and talents. Some thoughts….. some musings…..
I was not at all surprised that more than 30% of IIT graduates passing out have not landed jobs. The numbers will be even more staggering when you go down the ladder to the second and third level Engineering Colleges whose admissions, courses and degrees were based on “Financial Payability”. Not to forget the MScs, MAs, MComs, MBAs and PhDs being mass produced by our outdated educational system. No wonder for even Peon’s job in a Govt dept, there are lakhs of Post Graduates and PhDs applying. Every politician is crying hoarse guaranteeing reservations to their vote banks. But the problem is not unemployment but UNEMPLOYABILITY. Ask any Entrepreneur; the two big problems are getting good employees and financial cash flow. Complete mismatch between evolving jobs and the skill sets and competencies of the youth entering the Job markets. We are only at the tip of the iceberg. With Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), Large Language Models(LLM) and Chat GPT, the existing markets at the entry levels for freshers and ordinarily Graduates and Post Graduates will simply disappear. No doubt about it.
Every politician defines the problem of unemployment but giving “Doles” to graduates and educated unemployed will only accentuate an already BIG social issue. We need to change our Societal approach; a good Plumber, a reliable Electrician, a dependable Repairman, a caring home nurse and a Handyman in every locality. With Solar Power, EV Vehicles, advanced storage batteries, Ionic chemistry, food processing, local artefacts and unique products development and marketing, we need to establish what Dr. Abdul Kalam had advocated – PURA. Let each District and Town become self sufficient in providing jobs for their youth. No post graduation or PhD is needed to do Value Added jobs in Agriculture, Food Processing and FPO (Farm Producer Organisation) management in every Taluka of the country. Get rid of all the restrictions and babudoms of the AMC and controls on Agri investments. India has huge opportunities. Just two examples – the revival of the Attar (Perfumes) industry in Kannauj in UP and the Aranmula Kannadi in a village in Pathanamthitta in Kerala. Or the entrepreneurs who export “Kappa -Fish curry” to Gulf, Hyderabadi Biryani to Australia, “Pani Puri” to US for the World cup T-20. We need innovative ideas, risk taking and a social attitude to accept skills and competencies and not incompetent MBAs and Engineers.
India is poised to be the third largest economy. Let’s all find new ideas, to grow the creative way, the inclusive way, the SEEGOS way.