Thousands register at employment exchanges in Assam, but there is little exchange of information
QUOTE: “Even if the job is similar to one available locally, societal pressure often drives them to seek employment elsewhere. For instance, working in a restaurant outside the state might be perceived differently than working in a similar establishment locally due to societal judgments.”
Employment Exchange official
Assam has been struggling with a growing unemployment crisis, with thousands of educated youths registering with employment exchanges each year in the hope of securing stable jobs. Yet, despite the high number of registrations, there seems to be no effective mechanism to track the status or success of these unemployed individuals in finding employment.
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In 2022, nearly 10 lakh educated youths in Assam registered with employment exchanges, a dramatic increase from just 1.4 lakh the previous year. Currently, over 21 lakh youths are registered in the state's employment exchanges, seeking job opportunities. This figure does not even account for those who are unemployed, but have not registered with the employment exchanges.
The Skill Development Mission, initiated in 2017, aimed to address this issue by providing skill training to enhance employability. However, the mission has faced several challenges, including inadequate funding and poor implementation. Various schemes and funds intended for skill development in the labour and tea tribe departments were either underutilised or not implemented at all. The Skill Development Mission also struggled with a fund crunch, which hampered its effectiveness.
Talking to GPlus, a senior official from the Skill Development Department highlighted the disparity in budget allocations, stating, "For education, a budget of around ₹25,000 crore is earmarked yearly, and for Sarba Siksha Abhiyan, around ₹30,000 crore is sanctioned. In contrast, only ₹30 crore is allocated for skill development." This difference in funding underscores the challenges faced by the skill development initiatives.
The official also pointed out that many private organisations were expected to coordinate with the Skill Development Mission to provide skill-based education. However, the process for such coordination is often cumbersome, leading many organisations to avoid involvement. Despite some training being offered, the results in terms of placements have been disappointing.
Several individuals who registered with the Employment Exchange have expressed frustration at the lack of support and tangible outcomes.
Talking to GPlus, Indrani Chakraborty, a resident of Guwahati, shared her experience: "I applied to the Employment Exchange over four years ago when they didn’t have an online portal. I waited with hundreds of others all day to get my employment card, but it seemed like it was all for show. I received the card to apply for a government exam, and since then, it has been gathering dust. I never received any help or guidance regarding jobs. The employment exchange seems to be a mere formality. People only get employment cards to apply for government exams or certain schemes, but otherwise, it is pretty useless."
Chakraborty also mentioned the lack of communication regarding the expiration of her employment card, which she found frustrating. "Even when my employment card expired, there was no notification. Renewing it was easier online, but again, it seems to be a pointless exercise," she added.
Another long-time registrant, Ranjan Sharma, who applied way back in 2007, talking to GPlus said,"I have been renewing my registration every year since 2007 but have never received any response from the officials."
On the other hand, a representative from the Skill Employment and Entrepreneurship Department provided a different perspective. "We do issue advertisements for government jobs, and through the employment exchange, we mainly facilitate placements in private companies. However, we do not have data on how many registered candidates have actually secured jobs. We send candidates according to their skills to private companies, but we do not receive feedback from these companies regarding job placements."
The official also noted that efforts are made to connect with registered candidates, but the limited number of companies in Assam restricts recruitment opportunities. "For private companies, candidates need to have specific skills. Many applicants do not have the required skills for the sectors they are interested in. However, there have been successful placements in the hospitality and technical sectors through the employment exchange," the official said.
The official further elaborated on some societal factors affecting employment. "Many people here prefer to work outside the state. Even if the job is similar to one available locally, societal pressure often drives them to seek employment elsewhere. For instance, working in a restaurant outside the state might be perceived differently than working in a similar establishment locally due to societal judgments."
The official also touched upon another issue: "Some youths here are not willing to work hard, which is another challenge."
While the number of job seekers continues to rise, the mechanisms in place to support and track their progress remain inadequate. The disparity in funding, ineffective coordination with private organisations, and societal pressures all contribute to the growing frustration among unemployed youths.
