Inflation, unemployment to the fore
Unemployment rate in Kerala is 28.7% against the national average of 10%, according to a report citing the Periodic Labour Force Survey of the Centre. Joblessness and poverty are issues that directly affect people and should find their reflection in the v
piralling prices of daily essentials and lack of employment opportunities for young people are issues that will sway voters in Kerala as the country prepares for the Lok Sabha elections. However, there is a feeling that it is unpredictable how seriously these issues will be reflected in the voting given that a host of issues have crowded the stage, with the incumbent party at the Centre facing allegations of largescale corruption over electoral bonds and highhandedness in the overall administration of justice.
If the latest data released by the International Labour Organization (ILO) is any indication, the labour situation is gloomy and needs to be truly reflected in the elections, said a researcher on employment and employment trends.
The ILO has painted a grim picture of the situation, and unemployment
Srate and other key labour data showed a longterm deterioration between 2000 and 2018, reported the ILO findings.
Reflection in voting
The researcher based in Kochi said that unemployment and poverty are issues that directly affect people and should find their reflection in the voting. The ILO data said a vast majority of the jobless Indians are young people and that the proportion of unemployed but educated young people has almost doubled from the 2000 level.
A report in February this year indicated that Kerala continued to be dogged by high unemployment rate, especially among those in the 1529 age group.
The unemployment rate in the State is 28.7% against the national average of 10%, according to a report citing the Periodic Labour Force Survey of the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.
Leader of the Opposition V. D. Satheesan said both unemployment and inflation are issues that will sway the voters during the upcoming election.
Both private and public sector companies are not making new recruitments in the State, contrary to government claims. Many of the big private employers are going in for voluntary retirement schemes too. While no substantial employment opportunities are being created, the IT sector is stagnating, he added.
Mood this time
Twenty20 chief coordinator and Kitex Garments managing director Sabu M.
Jacob said in the immediate past two elections, Kerala voters were troubled by the floods of 2018 and COVID19. However, this round of Lok Sabha polls will be strongly influenced by the spiralling cost of living, a big crunch in cash flow, and rampant unemployment.
Mr. Jacob said not only food items, even services cost heavy now. Over the last five years, the price of commodities and services have gone up, in some cases even up to 50%. Cash crunch has forced the poor even to forgo their prescription medicines and Kerala’s unemployment scenario is a major factor, he added.
Inflation trend too will sway the choice of the voters strongly, feels veteran consumer activist Dejo Kappen. The people in Kerala are not going to the polls this time to elect Lok Sabha members, but to make their voices heard on issues like inflation and unemployment, he said.
The price of pulses has seen a substantial increase over the last one year, whereas rice and cooking oil trends look under control.
Supplyco troubles
However, what has hit the lower middle class and the poor is the recent decision by the State government to substantially reduce subsidies on items sold through Supplyco, said the Opposition leader. He said many of the Supplyco outlets have no stocks, and the welfare pension payments too have been delayed, plunging the poor into deep trouble.
Mr. Satheesan said that the government is unable to make any serious market intervention as it usually does during the festive seasons like Christmas and New Year, Vishu, Easter, and Ramzan.
Mr. Kappen said that delay in pension and salary payments have found people with recurring payment obligations like EMIs in serious difficulty as they become defaulters before their lenders. These issues are grave concerns for the voters, he added.