India continues to grapple with rising unemployment. But the issue is hardly covered by national media.

NDTV journalist Ravish Kumar reported that lakhs of youth – the likes of school, college, engineering and MBA graduates – applied for the jobs of sweeper, watchman, driver, peon, etc in the Madhya Pradesh High Court. The salary for these jobs is about Rs 12,000 per month.

The MP High Court had released an advertisement in the zilla court for appointment in Grade 4 jobs. The deadline to apply was December 31, 2017. For 738 posts, more than 2 lakh youth applied. The maximum number of forms were filled in Gwalior – for mere 16 posts, 70,000 youth applied. Twelve panels had to be made for taking interviews that will go on till February 18.

Just by collecting application fees for forms filed in Gwalior, the state exchequer pocketed Rs 1.2 crore.

In MP’s Morena Zilla, 5,300 youth applied for 22 posts in four jobs. The number of people who came to give interviews was so large that the police has to resort to lathi charge to control the crowd.

ABP Live reported that in Barwani, just for 5 posts, 1,500 youth applied, these included the ones from civil engineering background.

The same situation was reported from Ujjain where 7,000 candidates applied online for the post of sweeper, watchman, etc. Police had to lathi charge on the crowd.

Though school, college, MBA, engineering graduates have also applied, only the ones who have studied till standard 8 have been shortlisted because the eligibility criteria was such.

The Logical Indian take

The country’s educated youth are out on the streets either protesting against the government’s inaction to give them jobs or applying for jobs much below their potential and academic background.

Before Prime Minister Narendra Modi came into power, he promised 10 million jobs a year for the country’s youth. After nearly four years in office, the BJP government has not only failed to keep its end of the bargain but has also turned a blind eye to the plight of India’s unemployed youth.

Equally unfortunate is the state of discourse in the country. Petty communal and caste politics have polarised opinions to such an extent that the only issues we are capable of talking about are riots here and riots there.

Our youth – the future of our country – is employed despite being educated. MBA and engineering graduates are ready to work as sweepers and watchmen, pointing at their desperation to make a living.  

It is time for our representatives to wake up and realise the repercussions of joblessness. Is your politics more important than the future of our children?