Will 4 lakh Maha Kumbh workers wait 144 years for jobs?: Akhilesh
The recent Maha Kumbh fair in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, has come under scrutiny once again, this time with Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav taking a dig at the Yogi Adityanath-led state government over the employment opportunities provided to the workers who helped organize the event.
In a recent statement, Yadav questioned the sustainability of the jobs offered to the workers, implying that they would have to wait for another 144 years for employment opportunities to arise again. This is because the next Maha Kumbh fair is scheduled to take place in 144 years.
The SP chief’s statement came in response to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s claim that four lakh youth were employed during the Maha Kumbh fair. According to Adityanath, these workers were hired to help devotees commute to the fairgrounds on motorcycles.
While the UP government’s claim may have been intended to showcase its efforts to provide employment opportunities to the youth, Yadav’s statement suggests that the jobs provided may not be sustainable in the long run. The SP chief’s criticism is not without merit, as many of the workers hired for the event may not have received permanent employment or social security benefits.
The Maha Kumbh fair, which is held every 12 years, is a significant event in Hindu mythology, attracting millions of devotees from across the country. While the event provides a boost to the local economy, the jobs created during the event are often temporary and do not offer a long-term solution to unemployment.
Yadav’s statement is also a reflection of the larger unemployment crisis in the country. India’s unemployment rate has been rising steadily over the past few years, with the latest data from the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE) showing that the unemployment rate reached a 45-year high of 7.35% in July 2022.
The UP government’s efforts to provide employment opportunities to the youth during the Maha Kumbh fair may have been seen as a short-term solution to the unemployment crisis, but it is clear that more needs to be done to address the issue in the long run.
In addition to providing temporary employment opportunities, the UP government could have also taken steps to skill the workers and provide them with permanent employment options. Many of the workers hired for the event may not have received training or education to help them secure permanent jobs.
Furthermore, the government could have also provided social security benefits to the workers, including health insurance, pension, and other benefits. This would have helped to ensure that the workers were protected against unforeseen circumstances and had a sense of financial security.
In conclusion, while the UP government’s efforts to provide employment opportunities to the youth during the Maha Kumbh fair may have been well-intentioned, the jobs provided are unlikely to be sustainable in the long run. As Akhilesh Yadav pointed out, the workers may have to wait for another 144 years for employment opportunities to arise again.
To address the unemployment crisis in the country, the government needs to take a more comprehensive approach, including providing education and skills training to the youth, creating permanent employment opportunities, and providing social security benefits to the workers. Only then can we ensure that the youth are equipped to secure a better future for themselves.
