In the last 18 months the lockdown due to the pandemic has clearly impacted employment. More than six million salaried people lost their jobs in November.
As per the estimates of the CMIE the unemployment rate in India rose to 7.9 percent in December 2021 as compared to 7 percent in November. India is home to a fifth of the world’s youth, and has the largest young workforce. If we look at MP, the data is alarming.
According to the economic survey report of 2020-21, the state has registered more than 30 lakh jobless people. With more than half of the population below 30 years in 2026, MP could reap the benefits of the demographic dividend by investing in its youth and enhancing their employability.
Shivraj Singh Chouhan, the chief minister of Madhya Pradesh is focusing on opportunities and projects that could create jobs for youth.
The state government is taking steps to organize employment fairs in every district; Self-employment schemes such as the “Udyam Kranti Yojna” are being operated.
Projects such as futuristic Bunder Diamond Project in Chhatarpur that holds a promise to contribute more than Rs 28,000 crores to the government exchequer and economic activities to about Rs 40,000 crores besides providing employment opportunities to the local youth in the Bundelkhand region is providing a ray of hope to the region.
As of now, 14 out of 15 diamonds are being cut and polished in India and mostly in Surat, with the Bunder Diamond Project, the state government could generate employment for hundreds of youth in the vicinity of its mining districts of the Bundelkhand region. MP could replicate Surat in Gujarat in terms of its capacity to skill and train its youth for the diamond polishing industry. On the occasion of National Youth Day, authorities must focus on the barriers caused during the pandemic and address challenges of young Indians. With Ken-Betwa interlinking project clearing the coast and Bunder Diamond project bringing new prosperity to the Bundelkhand.