Lucknow/ New Delhi: On the occasion of National Youth Day, a robust social media campaign was launched, tagging Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Droupadi Murmu on platforms like X (formerly Twitter), to demand urgent solutions to the country’s escalating unemployment crisis.
A statement released by the Employment Rights Campaign highlighted the wasted potential of millions of youth whose energy could be harnessed for nation-building. The statement blamed the government’s corporate-friendly policies for the crisis, noting that even graduates from prestigious institutions like IITs face unemployment, underscoring the gravity of the issue.
Nationwide Campaign for Employment Rights
The campaign follows a National Conference held on November 10, 2024, in Delhi, where extensive deliberations led to the launch of a nationwide dialogue on four key demands:
- Guarantee of Education, Healthcare, and Employment: Ensure basic rights for all citizens.
- Immediate Filling of Vacant Positions: Around one crore vacant government posts must be filled without delay.
- Respectable Living Standards: Guarantee a dignified life for every individual.
- Tax on the Super Rich: Implement appropriate wealth, inheritance, and gift taxes to fund welfare measures.
Issues Highlighted in the Campaign
The statement also shed light on concerns regarding irregularities in recruitment processes, such as scams and delays due to normalization policies. It criticized the advocacy for 70-90 work hours per week by certain industrialists, calling it unjustified in an era when developed nations are reducing work hours due to advancements in Artificial Intelligence and high technology.
The campaign warned that longer work hours would:
- Lead to exploitation of the labor force.
- Negatively impact the physical and mental health of workers.
- Increase unemployment by limiting job opportunities.
Instead, the campaign urged the government to consider reducing work hours to improve productivity and well-being.
Economic Solutions for Employment and Social Welfare
Renowned Indian economists have argued that imposing a 2% wealth tax on the super-rich, alongside inheritance and gift taxes, could generate an additional ₹20-25 lakh crore annually. This revenue, combined with efforts to curb the black economy, could be used to:
- Provide dignified employment opportunities.
- Guarantee quality education and healthcare.
- Offer fair wages to Anganwadi and contract workers.
- Restore the Old Pension Scheme for government employees.
- Ensure legal MSP guarantees for farmers.
- Strengthen social security systems for citizens.
The Employment Rights Campaign has demanded immediate structural changes to India’s policies, asserting that addressing the employment crisis is crucial not only for the youth but also for the nation’s overall progress.
A Call for Action
The campaign on National Youth Day has ignited a conversation about critical socio-economic issues. It calls upon the government to prioritize employment creation, fair labor practices, and equitable wealth distribution to pave the way for a more inclusive and prosperous India.