Editor,
New data from the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy Pvt, a private research firm in Mumbai paints a grim picture of the intractable unemployment problem in India. The report reveals that a substantial number of people are no longer even looking for jobs. Widespread frustration at not being able to find the right kind of job prompts people, especially women to exit the labour force entirely.
The findings of the study seem to be an ominous sign for India’s progress and human resource development. Between 2017 and 2022, the overall labour participation rate dropped considerably. As for women, the data is demoralising and discouraging. About 21 million disappeared from the workforce. It is worrisome that 900 million Indians in the working age do not want a job. Given that about two-thirds of the population is between the ages of 15 and 64, competition for jobs is fierce. As government jobs provide job security, millions of people compete for such jobs. Considering the gravity of unemployment, 90 million new non-farm jobs need to be created by 2030.
In spite of advancements in different sectors, unemployment seems to be insoluble and unmanageable. And despite India’s attempts to liberalise its economy, India’s dependency ratio is rising. People may become older, but not richer. A majority of people survive on meagre sources of income. In a world of rapidly changing technology, those who lack required skills fail to keep up with it and eventually become ill-equipped for the job market. Considering the enormity and complexity of the unemployment problem in the country, the government needs to take drastic measures to solve it.
Yours etc.,
Venu GS,
Kollam
Digital Banks and the North East
Editor,
This refers to the recent move by the Union Finance Ministry to introduce Digital Banking in India at the earliest. With the younger generation hooked to the digital media, banking may become a difficult proposition for the older generation, more so if digital banking becomes more profitable for the banks. Many among the older generation are not even comfortable with ATM operations. Very often we also observe that bank’s don’t welcome the physical presence of customers in their premises. The Government’s move may unwittingly close the gates for customers.
One of the fallouts would be the impact on local and regional banks like Meghalaya Rural Bank and Meghalaya Cooperative Apex Bank, which would be disadvantaged in this respect, and because of their limited resources. Fraudulent online activities may also see a phenomenal rise because of the unleashing of full digital banking. Further, it can be gauged that local banks would be constrained in this respect. The Meghalaya Government should take corrective steps by pleading with the Union Government so that these local entities do not suffer because of the latest changes in Digital Banking.
Yours etc.,
D Bhutia,
Guwahati – 24
NEET & CUET: Two sides of the same coin
Editor,
The devastation on our toppers in Physics, Chemistry and Biology, since 2019, the year NEET took over from DHS (GOM),is too well known and too often expressed in this newspaper. The views of our leading experts on education in Delhi and Shillong with the principals of UCC and Synod College, and also a few voices of NEHU Professors were already expressed in The Shillong Times. It is sad to hear the lone cry of AM Rynjah (ST April 18, 2022) “Is Meghalaya ready for CUET? This was not echoed by our educationists in the state. We tend to behave like ostriches that bury their heads in the sand to not see the dangers lurking ahead. In doing so we fail to realise that CUET and NEET are two sides of the same coin.
I need to repeat the fears of Dr Abhi Dev Habib, professor, Delhi University that multiple choice questions (MCQs) of IIT, NEET and JEE are trick questions, and not found in textbooks. Dr Dinesh Singh, ex VC Delhi University lamented at the dismal performance of IIT and NEET aspirants at the international platforms. He attributed that to MCQs lacking creativity and concepts. It is true as most MCQs are nothing but memorisation of hidden conversion tables and formulae with lengthy arithmetic. The significant constants we were furnished in our era are asked in MCQs as rote learning. If MBBS results of the last five years are analysed they will reveal how those who performed well in NEET actually scored in their MBBS.
The trend in our country looks scary indeed, as money plays a vital role to elbow oneself to heights of glory while the meritorious poor become the sacrificial lambs no different from doctor aspirants, though the amount paid for CUET coaching is not as heavy as that of NEET.
To cite the examples of the UK or US to argue for CUET is incongruous. Universities in the above countries enjoy universal curriculum and prescribed text books and students have options to choose from a range of subjects, especially the much needed modern ones in the field of environment, advanced software, satellite communication etc.
With CUET allowing the tests to be taken in 13 mother tongues of which Khasi/Garo are excluded would be discriminatory for us in Meghalaya. In 2021 March, students were allowed to write their engineering exams in 13 mother tongues. When students protested, the 13 were reduced to 5 recently. But no one in Meghalaya bothered.
Of course, to pass is not a problem as narrated by students. The lectures in Hindi are not understood. For a diverse India, English is the link language. But no one in the Secretariat ever ponders on this. Do we ever dispassionately ponder on the evaluation part? Khasis, Mizos, Nagas and South Indians answer in English. But no matter how morally infallible the evaluator is those answering in the mother tongue will always score better.
Late Dr B. Pakem, as VC of NEHU, decoded the answer scripts to do justice to all colleges as none could deny a soft corner for their own college examinees. And this was only in respect to the lone university – NEHU. In a national examination the mother tongue can play unsavoury tricks. CUET with 13 mother tongues may not escape the indulgence of evaluators towards those of their own kind.
Our rural students would encounter problems in digital technology. Already fear and apprehension is brewing amongst many. What we don’t understand is why the school education would finally melt down to a 3-hour test with defective MCQs which are from the Class 12 syllabus only. Two weeks of deliberation on matters involving the future of our students is equal to being bulldozed.
The jettisoning of topics on Democracy, Diversity and poems by Faiz Ahmed Faiz and history of the Mughals from the CBSE syllabus of Class 10 and 12 Class is telling us which way the country is going. My sincere request to Mr P Tynsong even while thanking him for his assurance on CUET after the Education Minister had back-tracked, is to exempt CUET for now until Meghalaya gets its own State University. Otherwise our children will become sacrificial lambs and guinea pigs.
Yours etc
W. Passah
Ex HOD Electronics
St Edmund’s College Shillong