Mumbai, August 13: Shiv Sena (UBT) has raised concerns regarding the government’s assertions of strong economic and industrial growth amidst global instability. The party claims that official statistics presented in Parliament contradict these claims.
According to data released by the Ministry of Statistics, there has been no increase or decrease in employment opportunities in India over the past year. The Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) indicates that the country’s job market remains entirely stable.
An editorial published in Shiv Sena (UBT)’s mouthpiece, ‘Saamana,’ highlights several key indicators related to the current employment situation. The unemployment rate for the current quarter stands at 5.5%, slightly down from 5.6% a year ago. The share of salaried employees in June was 51.4%, a slight increase from 51.2% in June of the previous year. The participation of female workers has also risen from 32% to 32.7%. However, opportunities for employment in rural areas continue to decline.
The editorial points out that while government supporters view the stable unemployment rate as a sign of economic strength and resilience, critics are drawing attention to the deepening crisis among educated youth. The number of graduate youths in India has surged to 63 million, a thirteen-fold increase over four decades, while the number of unemployed graduates has risen sixteen-fold during the same period. Currently, six out of ten graduate youths are unemployed.
Citing a report from Azim Premji University, the editorial states that two out of three unemployed youths hold degrees. This indicates that while they possess the necessary educational qualifications, adequate job opportunities are lacking. It claims that only 12 out of every 1,000 job-seeking youths manage to secure permanent employment.
The Shiv Sena, led by Uddhav Thackeray, argues that the Ministry of Statistics’ data directly contradicts recent claims made by Union Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, who stated that the government has created 17 million new jobs annually over its 12-year tenure. The party asserts that the latest figures validate concerns raised by opposition leader Rahul Gandhi regarding youth unemployment during the ‘Students’ Echo’ event in Prayagraj.
The Thackeray faction alleges that a government claiming a ‘five trillion’ economy has failed to create even a single new job in the past year. They emphasize that the government has not fulfilled its promise of generating two million jobs annually, leaving millions of qualified graduates’ futures uncertain.
The editorial concludes, “This is a reflection of the Modi government’s economic policies, as revealed by one of its own ministries.” It also criticizes the Union Home Minister‘s alleged suggestion to fry snacks if jobs are unavailable, along with referencing the Prime Minister‘s “Hello Friends” reel aimed at youth, urging the government to reflect on its own image.
Shiv Sena (UBT) asserts that despite grand claims of economic growth, the reality on the ground regarding job creation remains troubling, and the challenge of providing adequate and permanent employment for educated youth continues to deepen.
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