Gangwar Evading Job Crisis With ‘Lack of Qualified Youths’ Remark?

Mr Minister, is there a lack of qualified candidates in north Indian youth or is there a lack of jobs?

(Photo: Altered by The Quint)

Video editors: Sandeep Suman and Varun Sharma

“The country doesn’t have lack of job opportunities. Apart from employment exchanges, we have taken several other steps too and my ministry is monitoring it. All I can say is, there is no job crisis but those who seek recruitment in north India often complain that they don’t find candidates that match their requirements. We are working on that but there is no job crisis.”

Santosh Gangwar, MoS (Independent Charge), Labour & Employment

This statement of by Santosh Gangwar, Minister of Labour and Employment adds injury to insult for unemployed BTech, MTech and MBA degree holders.

The Union minister, who is responsible for creating employment opportunities said North Indian candidates – of UP and Bihar – aren’t qualified enough. Gangwar should try telling this to an IIT graduate who is forced to work as a gangman for Indian Railways.

Not long ago, a report released by National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) said that the unemployment rate in the country was at its highest level in 45 years. Forget about new jobs, the slowdown in auto sector means we are losing jobs.

According to Automotive Component Manufacturers Association of India, as many as 2 lakh jobs were lost in the past few months and in the coming quarter, 10 lakh more jobs are at risk. In Jharkhand’s Jamshedpur, a junior engineer decided to end his life after he lost his job in the ancillary sector.

Yet the government claims there is no recession and ministers like Mr Gangwar claim there is no job crisis. But the above examples do raise a question. Is his ‘lack of qualified candidates’ remark an attempt to cover up the lack of jobs?