The right skill set Earning from coconuts

With reference to the editorial, “An employment crisis” (July 12), demonetisation undoubtedly affected labour-intensive sectors badly and there is no way the government can act like an ostrich after the survey findings of Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy. The sample size of the survey is pretty large to be taken lightly.

This government has launched several schemes in the three years of its rule — for example, Skill India, Make in India, Digital India. But where are the jobs, both for skilled and unskilled manpower? There is a dearth of job opportunities.

Many things are interlinked here. For example, fresh investment will revive only when banks start lending; they will not do so until they come out of the nonperforming assets crisis. Although there seems to be some momentum towards resolution of this crisis, a long distance remains to be covered.

The biggest issue is lack of skill; for that, there is Skill India. But the objective should be that a skilled person is able to get a job for a long term and that it is sustainable. Otherwise, the whole exercise of providing skills to the youth is meaningless. For this, the government has to bring about structural reform, as the editorial rightly mentions. However, the government needs to sit with Indian Inc to find out what skills are required from the youth.

In a country where citizens get no unemployment benefit, this is the least the government can do. This government has two more years left, hence it would only be advisable that it accords highest priority to finding the right skill set.

Bal Govind Noida affected by demonetisation. According to the International Labour Organization, a large section of youth between 18 and 25 are unemployed despite being skilled.

Lack of proper infrastructure and awareness is responsible for slow growth of digitisation. Implementation of the goods and services tax (GST) without covering key areas such as real estate, alcohol, petroleum and tobacco is another wrong move by the government. The manufacturing sector is languishing. Micro, small and medium enterprises are already under threat after launch of GST.

Innovative thinking is required to generate jobs — for example, at call centres for GST — and to implement other government policies. The decline in employment could be partly offset by implementing a skill development programme. Training could be given in cloud computing and the internet of things.

The role of Niti Aayog is vital here. It should draw up a comprehensive plan for structural reforms in key areas such as land, labour, skill development to enhance job prospects for the youth.

P S Mukhopadhyay Nagpur Surinder Sud’s column, “Cracking the coconut commerce puzzle” (July 14), is relevant for policymakers and readers. He gives vital information that can make coconut commercially lucrative for coastal natives.

Research bodies could look at the Gujarat coastline for setting up coconut plantations. Coconuts can offer new avenues for boosting income in littoral Gujarat villages, where the main source of livelihood at present is fisheries. NGOs concerned with ecology, cooperative banks, new small finance banks can support coconut plantations and make them financially viable. There is already a successful income model of growing grass for paper pulp in and around Dediapada near Rajpipla in Gujarat.

Packed neera also needs to be popularised. Training self-help groups, midday meal workers, Asha workers, NREGA workers and anganwadis to make coconut products is sure to infuse the coastal population with an entrepreneurial spirit.