Abstract

Annual report of the University Grants Commission (UGC) of the year 2012 titled as ‘Higher Education in India at a Glance’ has stated that ‘caste’ is still a prime hurdle for Disadvantaged Social Groups (DSGs) to access Higher Education (HE). Thus, it has adversely affected educational performance and future professional aspirations of youths over the years. However, vicious and multi-dimensional nature of this phenomenon continued to operate in job market. Because of this, educated youths belonging to DSGs forcefully are dragged to face exclusion and discrimination in job market and hence number of educated unemployed and underemployedis increased day by day. Moreover, inability of government to address this issue effectively through state apparatuses and politicization over the question of merit and reservation has added fuel to it and made the situation even worse. This study was undertaken in Chimur tehsil of Chandrapur district. It explores and analyses the nature, extent and magnitude of the educated unemployment among Scheduled Castes(SCs) youths who are basically educated unemployed and underemployed and passed 12 th standard at a lowest level of education and above before five years. Secondly, it also examines the role of District Skill Development, Employment and Entrepreneurship Guidance Centre (DSDE & EGC) from 2007 to 2011 to address educated unemployment among SCs youths in Chandrapur district of Maharashtra state in general and Chimur tehsil in particular.

Key words: Disadvantaged Social Groups, Higher Education, job market, educated unemployment, underemployment, the question of merit and reservation, District Skill Development, Employment and Entrepreneurship Guidance Centre.

1. Introduction:

In the modern era, education is being seen as the most important means for nation building through social change and development in India. However, such type of conceptualization and expectation itself becomes questionable on various grounds due to caste being a prime factor to determine and regulate societal relationships and functioning respectively in every aspect. Nevertheless, caste holding relivance even today of being one of the determinant factors of systematic ranking and unequal access to valued resources like wealth, income, power and prestige across the country (Deshpande, 2010, p. 3). Thus, it is noteworthy to say that the process of systematic ranking and unequal access is manifested through rigid and hierarchical Varna system, which divides society into four different Varnas, Brahmin being at the top followed by Kshatriya, Vaishya and Shudra etc.Moreover, this overall tradition has encouraged the isolation of the Shudra and Ati-Shudra(1) from upper three Varnas by denning facilities like schools, temples, wells, water tanks, etc. on one hand and restricting the upward mobility on the other hand. Infact, it has adversely affected their socio, economic, cultural, political and educational life spheres.Nevertheless, the nature, extent and magnitude of loss, which occurred due to this disastrous phenomenon, vary from one group to the other.

It is quite clear from evidences that development constraints that DSGs in general and SCs in particular are witnessing on daily basis are a result of historical legacy of atrocities and injustices. By considering this, education is to be envisages to act beyond traditional role of being an instrument of knowledge and employment and constructively act as agent towards social change for SCs in true sense. Therefore, Lulekar (as cited in Sarang, 2014)argued that according to Ambedkar, “education is a weapon of creation of mental and educational development, weapon of eradication of social slavery of economic development of political freedom” (p. 60). Hence, the education for DSGs in general and SCs in particular is about being an instrument to improve personal endowments and building capacities that help to overcome with psychosocial and other constraints that are backed by the caste system. At the later stage, HE is required for both knowledge and meaningful employment. Despite having special initiatives for the educational upliftment of the DSGs in general and SCs in particular, yet they are finding internal and external difficulties to avail them due to internal and external obstacles. Nambissan (as cited in Fraser, 2010) argued that there have been a number of suggestions proposed as to why the Dalits have yet to take advantage of open access to education. Some have suggested that Dalits possess an apathetic attitude towards education, and so the thought of attending school seems unappealing and inefficient compared to entering the workforce or doing nothing at all. Another suggestion of the cause for lower access to education to Dalits is that most families are caught in a vicious cycle of illiteracy and poverty. Therefore, not only do parents have no incentive to have their children attend school, but they also frequently lack the financial means to send them to the fee-based schooling system of India. The final and often most realistic reasons for why the Dalits have failed to take advantage of their access to education is a combination of a history of oppression and a lack of access to local, quality education systems (para. 14). Besides these, the failure of initiatives especially meant for DSGs in general and SCs in particular to deliver expected outcomes alongside of the expansion of entire education sector is one of the major reasons behind the same. Eventually, this scenario has provided favourable environment to emerge issues related with accessibility, availability, affordability and quality of education. Whereas, forward castes always remained beneficiaries of educational advancement that Indian education sector especially HE has witnessed due to their social and economic positions.

Several studies Halsey, Heath & Ridge , 1980 ; Hauser & Featherman , 1976 ( as cited in Desai & Kulkarni , 2008 ) shows thatwhether educational expansion is sufficient to reduce educational inequalities or whether explicit affirmative action is needed remain thorny issues facing many national governments, with little empirical evidence to guide future policies. Research on educational stratification suggests that inequality in education between different social strata continues and sometimes even widens in spite of educational growth (p. 245). Beside this, it is clear from the evidences that inequalities will be continued to percolate at all levels until Indian education system in general and HE in particular undergoes through complete transformation. If this phenomenon continues long time then it might eliminate the DSGs in general and SCs in particular from the job market through systematic exclusion and discrimination. Therefore, the measures that would probably in place to address the issues pertaining to HE firstly comes with prime responsibility of taking care of creating, encouraging and maintaining healthy teaching and learning environment in HE system. Simultaneously, they take care of market interest of all kinds at the later stage. While drawing the inference between educational inequalities and its long-run repercussion, Thorat (2010) argued that this concept is quite close to concept of “economic discrimination” developed separately in recent economic literature related to race and gender, which recognized participation or access but with unequal treatment in the labour and other markets (p.6). Nevertheless, one cannot side lined the caste angles in this regard, which is still relevant in formal and informal employment sector in India. While referring to the work of Banerjee and Knight, 1991, Thorat (as cited in Thorat, 2007) argued that some researchers on caste have applied the concept of labour market and occupation discrimination to caste . While applying the concept developed in context of race and gender to the caste, it is necessary to recognize the uniqueness of caste discrimination. The normative framework of the caste system involves exclusion and discrimination in multiple market and non-market transactions and social relations. Untouchables also suffer from social exclusion due to the practice of untouchability, which brings an additional dimension to their discrimination and exclusion (p.4). Beside this technical aspect, exclusion and discrimination possess positive co-relationship with unemployment of educated youths categorically belonging to DSGs in general and SCs in particular. By considering this grave situation, the ongoing policy measures in this regards has to focus on bringing equilibrium between HE system and job market than anything else. Thus, it should be operationalised in way that the professional aspirations, interests and rights of the youths belongs to DSGs in general and SCs in particular would be take care off without any compromise in job market. However, this is not an easy task to execute upon. There are number of hurdles in the path of doing so. Because of this, there is quite significant number of educated unemployed even after seventy years of independence in India. Moreover, this number is comparatively high in case of DSGs in general and SCs in particular as compare to general category. Beside these, it is important to note that unemployment among educated youths has very rich politico- historical background in India.

The educated unemployment and underemployment is not a new phenomenon in India. However, its root could be trace during first half of 19 th century ( Visaria, 1976). Eventually, entry of the English education added fuel to make situation worse. (Iftikhar- ul – Awwal, 1982). Since then the prospectus of unemployment among the educated youths have influenced and shaped through internal and external factors over the years. Currently, Employment Directorate in the Directorate General of Employment and Training is responsible for laying down the policies, standards, norms and guidelines for coordination of the National Employment Service at all India level. In addition, it also evaluates and monitors employment and unemployment situation at all India level using various sources of employment data such as Population Census (PC) , Labour Force Surveys (LFSs) conducted by National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO) and Employment Market Information Programme (EMIP) etc. ( Director General of Employment and Training, Government of India, 2015, p.1). However, one of the prominent aspects of the Indian employment scenario is that almost these all sources agreed upon the fact that youths of our country possess crucial position in Labour Force (LF) (2) in general and Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) (3) in particular. Nevertheless, it gives an impression that despite curbing measures in place to address the issue of unemployment of all kinds, India cannot chess its dream becoming world’s fourth largest economy by 2025 (4). In the long, this situation has serious implications for women and DSGs in general and SCs in particular. Now days, it has become add on factor in their struggles against atrocities and injustices which they are daily witnessing through.

Director General of Employment and Training, Government of India (2015)have explained the ongoing prospectus of employment and unemployment of the educated people in India by following ways:

(a) Live Register (Live Register):Total 482.61 lakh persons were reported to be total job seekers on the Live Register of Employment Exchanges (LREE) at the end of December 2014 in India. Among them total number of male and female were 311.83 and 170.78 lakh respectively. However, male and female percentage of job-seekers on LREE is 64.61 and 35.39 respectively.

(b) Educated Live Register (ELR): Total number of educated job seekers (10th standard and above) on LREE at the end of December, 2013 was 400.15 lakh. Among them total number of male and female were 251.74 and 148.41 lakh respectively. However, male and female percentage of educated job seekers (10th standard and above) on LREE is 62.91 and 37.09 respectively.

(c) Vacancy Notified (VN): Total number of vacancies notified during the year 2014 (January to December) was 7.6 lakh.

(d) Placement of Job- Seekers of all categories (PJSAC): The total number of job-seekers placed was about 3.39 lakh during the year 2014. Moreover, there were 60.8 thousand women job-seekers placed through employment exchanges against total of 3.49 lakh during 2014.

(e) Placement of Educated Job- Seekers (PEJS): Total number of educated (10th standard and above) job seekers placed through the employment exchanges during the year 2013 (January to December) was 227.8 thousand. Among them total number of male and female were 188.2 and 39.6 thousand respectively. However, the percentage of male and female of Total number of educated (10th standard and above) job seekers placed through the employment exchanges during the same period is 82.61 and 17.39 respectively.

Recently, the UGC has stated that ‘caste’ is still a prime hurdle for disadvantaged social groups in general and SCs in particular to access HE(5). It is an outcome of long-standing absence of inclusive and healthy teaching-learning environment over the years in Indian HE system. Moreover, the non-addresal of issues pertaining to accessibility, availability, affordability and quality in HE has contributed to make this happens. Because of this, the youths belong to DSGs in general and SCs in particular are continuously exposed to discrimination and exclusion in HE. Eventually, their educational performs and future professional goals gets affected and compromised. As a result of this scenario, the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) of SCs at HE is 19.9 percent as compared to the national GER of 24.5 percent ( Ministry of Human Resource Development, Department of Higher Education, Government of India, 2016 ). Furthermore, vicious and multi-dimensional nature of this phenomenon continued to operate outside the realm of HE more specifically in job market. Nevertheless, this tradition has diluted the implementation of reservation policy in educational institutions and employment mainly Public Sector and Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) over the years. Despite these, the ultimate onus of this situation lies on the DSGs in general and SCs in particular in the name of merit and excellence. Thus, this situation eventually leads to increase the number of educated unemployment among them.

Director General of Employment and Training, Government of India (2015) have explained the prospectus of employment and unemployment of the educated people belongs to SC category by following ways:

(a) LR: Among 468.03 lakh job seekers as on 31.12.2013, 72.92 lakh job seekers belonged to SC category. However, the percentage of job-seekers belongs to SC category was 15.58.

(b) ELR: There were 66.01 lakh educated job seekers (10th standard and above) belongs to SC category on LREE against total 400.15 lakh across all categories at the end of December, 2013. However, the percentage of educated job-seekers belongs to SC category was 16.49.

(c) VN: Total number of vacancies notified during the year 2014 (January to December) was 7.6 lakh. However, total 20.44 thousand reserved vacancies notified for SCs in 2013.

(d) PJSAC: The total number of total job-seekers placed was 3.39 lakh during the year 2014. However, total number of job-seekers belongs to SC category placed during the year 2013 was 31.8 thousand against total placement of 3.49 lakh.

(e) PEJS: Total number of educated (10th standard and above) job seekers placed through the employment exchanges during the year 2013 (January to December) was 227.8 thousand. Among of them total 20.6 thousand were belongs to SC category.

2. Methodology:

The broad objective of this research study is to explore and analyse the nature, extent and magnitude of the educated unemployment among the SCs youths. The study is based on the SCs educated unemployed and underemployed youths both males and females who passed 12 th standard at a lowest level of education and above before five years. However, the scope of study is restricted to the boundaries of fifteen villages of Chimur Tehsil in Chandrapur district. With the addition to this, the topical scope focuses on ascertaining the educated unemployment situation among SCs youths as well as the impact of reservation and HE policy.

This study is based on the mixed research paradigm and followed snowball-sampling method. The interview was the main source of primary data; whereas detailed ( semi )-structured interview schedule has been used as a tool of data collection. Apart from this, observation method has been used to collect the data by listing down what people actually do or what events take place during the interview process in a daily diary. The available on-line and off- line literature on educational planning, administration, and finance, educational and employment status of DSGs in general and SCs in particular, Report on Employment Exchanges (2015) by Director General of Employment and Training, Government of India, Economic Survey of Maharashtra (2015 -16) were used for literature review purposes.

3. Employment Scenario in Maharashtra:

3.1 an evidence from major sources on employment and unemployment

Directorate of Employment and Self Employment, Government of Maharashtra (2015) have explained the prospectus of employment and unemployment in Maharashtra by following ways:

(a) As per PC of 2011, number of workers was about 4.94 crore in the state. Among them, male and female were 3.26 crore and 1.68 crore respectively. Similarly, the Work Participation Rate (WPR) for the state was 44, as against 39.1 for All-India level.

(b) As per the sixth edition of Economic Census (EC), number of establishments in the State is 61.3 lakh with employment of 145.1 lakh. Nevertheless, the employment in the State has increased by 36.5 per cent as compared to fifth edition of EC. Of the total employment, a rural and urban area was 41.8 per cent and 58.2 per cent respectively.

(c) As per comprehensive quinquennial surveys on employment and unemployment of NSSO, the percentage of usually working persons was 53.6 during 2011-12 in state. Whereas the provisional results shows that , the average daily employment in 38,326 working factories registered under Factory Act, 1948 was about 20.2 lakh in 2013. However, it has clearly showed an increase of 2.6 percent in number of factories and decline in employment by 1.7 per cent over corresponding figures for the year 2012. Of the total working factories during 2013, about 22 per cent had 50 or more workers in the state. Maximum workers of employed in ‘Manufacture of basic metal and metal products’ and ‘Machinery and equipments (other than transport equipments)’ factories were 17.6 per cent and 12.9 per cent respectively.

(d) Based on the database of EMIP (6), Total employment in the State, at the end of September, 2015 was 57.46 lakh. Out of which public and private sector employment was about 22.21 lakh (40.1 per cent) and respectively 33.25 lakh (59.99 percent) respectively. Of the total employment, 31per cent were female employees. However, male constitutes 69 percent.

3.2 an evidence from the Directorate of Employment and Self Employment, Government of Maharashtra(7).

The two important aspects from the annual report of the Directorate of Employment and Self Employment, Government of Maharashtra gives overall sense of the educated unemployment in the state. These are as follows: (a) Registrations, notified vacancies and placements effected in DSDE & EGCs across state, and (b) Number of persons on LR of DSDE & EGCs across the state. Moreover, Table 1 explains trend of registrations, vacancies notified, placements effected and total number of persons on LR up to end of December, 2015 in DSDE & EGCs across Maharashtra state.

Table 1

Registrations, vacancies notified, placements effected and total number of persons on LR up to December 2015 in DSDE & EGCs across Maharashtra state (in Thousand).

(Source: Directorate of Employment and Self Employment, Government of Maharashtra cited in Economic Survey of Maharashtra 2015-16, p.202)

It is clear from the table that number of registrations is lesser than number of vacancies notified up to reference period by 109.5 thousand. Despite these, only 70.4 thousand registered candidates were placed. However, two reasons are behind slightly low placements during reference year such as: (a) Mismatch between educational qualification and demand and (b) inadequate soft and hard skills among job seekers.

(Directorate of Employment and Self-Employment, Government of Maharashtra, 2015). The bellow given table 2 explains number of persons on LR of DSDE & EGCs across Maharashtra state as on 31 st December 2014.

Table 2

Number of Persons on LR of Employment and DSDE & EGC sacross Maharashtra state as on 31 st December 2014.

(Source: Directorate of Employment and Self Employment, Government of Maharashtra. cited in Economic Survey of Maharashtra 2015-16, p. 203)

It is clear from the table that Engineering/ Technology, Medicines and Others remained prime sectors to provide employment opportunities to educated youths. Thus, percentage of female is highest i.e. 47.5 in diploma as subcategory of others as meta-category; whereas lowest percentage of female i.e. 10.5 is in Industrial Training Institute ( ITI) Trained and Apprentices. However, overall percent of female (across all educational qualification level) in case of number of persons on LR of DSDE & EGCs across Maharashtra state as on 31 st December 2014 is 26.4 ( Directorate of Employment and Self Employment, Government of Maharashtra, 2015).

3.3 Educated Unemployment among Chimur tehsil of Chandrapur district:

3.3.1 an evidence from Directorate of Census Operation , Government of Maharashtra

Chimur consisting total 259 villages is one among the fifteenth tehsil of Chandrapur district. A total area of Chimur tehsil is 925.23 sq . km. Total population of Chimur tehsil is 169,547. Among those male and female are 85,898 and 83,649 respectively (8) . Table 3 gives overview of SCs residing in Chimur tehsil of Chandrapur district.

Table 3

Cs at a glance in Chimur tehsil of Chandrapur District:

(Source: District Census Handbook Chandrapur-Census 2011)

The working population is divided into two types such as (a) industrial category and (b) marginal worker category. As far as industrial category is concerned, there is marginal difference of 350 between of total number of male and females as agricultural labourers. While, number of female is higher than male as marginal workers, agricultural labour (exclusive category), and household industry worker. It is being observed that females are getting fewer wages as compare to male across above-mentioned sub-categories. As far as marginal worker as broader category is concerned, females are more than males as non-workers sub-category.

3.3.2 an evidence from DSDE & EGC, Chandrapur, Maharashtra

DSDE & EGCs have been established in each district of the state to counsel, guide & help the job seekers in the state regarding employment & self-employment. In all 50 such centres are functioning in the state, of which, 35 are at district level (excluding newly formed Palghar district), six in universities, eight for tribal candidates and one special centre for physically handicapped persons (Nine). These centres work under the directions of the Directorate of Skill Development, Employment and Entrepreneurship, Government of Maharashtra. The table 4 describes trend of employment registration across categories from 2007 to 2011 in DSDE & EGC, Chandrapur.

Table 4

Registration of Job Seekers across categories in DSDE & EGC, Chandrapur, Maharashtra: 

( Source: District Skill Development, Employment and Entrepreneurship Guidance Centre Chandrapur, Maharashtra)

Table 4 shows that, the number of total registration has increased from 10128 in 2007 to 13373 in 2009. Since then, it decreased from 12873 in 2010 to 12374 in 2011. However, complete reverse picture could be seen in registration of SCs and General Category candidates. Registration of SCs candidates has increased only for one year i.e. from 1646 in 2007 to 1693 in 2008. In terms of percentage, the registration of SCs candidates against the percent of General Category candidates was about 16.25 percent in 2007 and 14.26 percent in 2008. Furthermore, the registration of SCs candidates has decreased up to 1543 during the year 2009 and afterwards increased from 1684 to 3210 in next two consecutive years i.e. 2010 and 2011. In terms of percent, the registration of SCs candidates against General Category candidates shows increment. Thus, it was about 11.53 percent in 2009, 13.08 percent in 2010 and 25.94 percent in 2011 respectively. Total registration of general category candidates has increased from 8482 in 2007 to 11830 in 2009. In terms of percent, the total registration of General Category candidates against the registration of SCs category candidates has increased consecutive three years. Thus, it was about 83.74 in 2007 and increased up to 85.73 in 2008 and 88.46 percent in 2009. In this regards, it is also important to note that this percent decrease up to 86.91 in 2010 and 74.05 percent in 2011. Furthermore, proportion of registration of general category in terms of numbers has also started decreasing from 11189 in 2010 to 9164 in 2011 (10) . Lastly, such kinds of ups-down in registration number is resulted due to not only ineffective measures adopted to reach out the unemployed youths of the district by centre but also negligence of the youth from other side too.

Table 5 explains the placement trend of job seekers across categories registered in DSDE & EGC, Chandrapur.

Table 5

Placement of Job-Seekers across categories registered in DSDE & EGC, Chandrapur, Maharashtra

(Source: District Skill Development, Employment and Entrepreneurship Guidance Centre Chandrapur, Maharashtra )

The table 5 clearly shows that the percent of applicants belongs to SCs being employed through DSDE & EGC, Chandrapur has increased from 2.03 in 2007 to 6.93 in 2011. On the contrary, percent of applicants belongs to general category (including Scheduled Tribes , Other Backward Classes and others) getting employed has comparatively decreased from 97.97 in 2007 to 93.07 in 2011. This scenario is basically backed by five reasons such as (a) non- availability of adequate employment opportunities in public and private sectors against the total number of registered applicants especially belongs to DSGs in general and SCs in particular, (b) inadequate measures towards disseminating the information about registration procedures and employment opportunities in public and private sectors adopted by DSDE & EGC, Chandrapur, (c) non-adoption of reservation policy in the recruitment process, (d) malpractices such as bribe used during the advertisement and pre and post-recruitment processes and (e) non-availability of grievance redressal and recruitment follow-up mechanism against the malpractices involved in advertisement and recruitment processes.

Nevertheless, only ten respondents have registered with DSDE & EGC, Chandrapur. Moreover, none of them took benefit out of the schemes and programmes implemented by centre.

4.3.3 Reasons behind educated unemployment among the respondents:

(i) Helplessness among youths about not getting exposure to explore HE opportunities beyond the traditional popular courses such as B.A., B. Sc. and B.Com. and periphery of taluka and district at maximum due to poor financial background of the family.

(ii) Unavailability of proper guidance and technical support mechanism for youths towards carefully choosing HE courses, so as either public or private sector jobs from parents, peer group, relatives, Community Based Organisation (CBO), state and non-state actors etc.

(iii) Lack of awareness among youths and parents about available HE opportunities in general and technical and professional courses in particular and scholarships and fellowships to pursue HE across the state, anywhere in India and abroad .

(iv) Lack of awareness among youths about available job opportunities across state, anywhere in India and abroad in various fields.

(v) High inclination of youths and their parents towards choosing general courses over the professional and technical courses after Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and Higher Secondary School Certificate (HSSC).

(vi) High inclination of youths towards government or public sector jobs preferably within the state in general and district in particular and preparing for the state based government or public sector jobs of various agencies such as Zillah Parishad (ZP), Municipality, departments of state government such as forest and home i.e. police, PSUs, and Public Sector Undertaking Corporation (PSUC) etc.

(vii) High tendency of educational divergence among the youths.

(viii) Lack of motivation among educated youths and unavailability of financial and technical support for new start-ups from parents, community, state and non-state agencies.

(ix) Malpractices such as bribe and procedural delay in the recruitment process of state based public entities such as ZP, Municipality, various departments of state government like forest and home i.e. police, PSUs, and PSUCs etc.

(x) Inadequate measures taken towards HE of female students belongs to DSGs in general and SCs in particular by government.

(xi) Inadequate measures towards ensuring on social security benefits and other incentives in state based private sectors jobs and motivating educated youths towards private sector jobs through meaningful initiatives by state.

(xii) Inadequate residential hostel facilities for youths pursuing HE and working women residential hostels for female youths belongs to DSGs in general and SCs in particular at sub-divisional level, district level and major cities of the state in particular and across the country in general.

5. Suggestions:

(i) The government has to focus on building capacities of DSDE & EGCs and similarly linking them with each other and such centres functioning across the country. Nevertheless, this network must be used for sharing information and database on (a) demands of job market, and available employment opportunities and (b) HE opportunities especially about technical and professional courses and scholarships, fellowships, internships, and placements to pursue HE not only in India but also abroad among the centres.

(ii) The departments of state government concerned with employment and livelihood generations and DSDE & EGCs has to maintain the database of employment opportunities across sectors. Based on the requirements of job market, advertising has to be done through off-line and online modes and carried out recruitment process in fair manner.

(iii) The government has to focus on capacity building of various stakeholders involved in the youths development, livelihood and employment generation such as government departments like department of labour, HE and Technical Education (TE) etc., ITIs, Vocational Education and Training Centre (VE&TC), Non-Government Organisation (NGO), CBOs, Youth Groups, and linking them with the DSDE & EGCs functioning across the state. With addition to this government has to establish new ITIs and VE & TCs across at sub-divisional, district and major cities of the state. However, similar kinds of exercise could be carried under the jurisdiction of government at centre, various states and union territories level.

(iv) The government has to establish Information Centre cum Grievance Redressal Cell at sub-divisional level across the state. So that all disputed related with recruitment processes could be resolved within the stipulated time. However, government has to make accountable to them across state in general and moist or naxal affected and hilly and tribal dominated areas in particular in order to disseminate the information related various employment opportunities, recruitment processes and government assistance with the help of various stakeholders such as Panchayati Raj Institution (PRI), people’s representatives etc.

(v) Government has to focus on strict enforcement of the laws related with gender discrimination, sexual harassment and physical assault at workplace, creating effective mechanism for quick redressal of grievances related with the gender discrimination, assault, and social security benefits for employees working in private sectors especially female employees.

(vi) The government has to focus on building capacities of Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) and employment generation initiatives run by state and non-state actors functioning in the state and linking them with each other and similar kinds of corporations and initiatives existing in other states and union territories.

(vii) The government has to establish the PSUCs to provide financial and technical assistance to educated youths belong to DSGs and SCs in particular for initiating new start-ups.

(viii) Government has to focus on creating viable mechanisms to link educated youths who are essentially engaged in start-ups with market not only across India but also abroad.

(ix) By considering the demands of job market at local and global level, government at centre in general and states and union territories in particular has to bring necessary reforms in HE system.

Similarly, attention must be given towards implementing skill development, personality development and career guidance programmes in every HE institutions compulsorily.

6. Conclusion

The unemployment among educated youths has influenced and shaped over the years duo to socio, economic, political, educational, cultural, religious and geographical factors in India. Nevertheless, it appeared in the literature, research studies, reports and databases prepared by government, semi-government and non-government agencies that it exists essentially due to imbalance between Indian HE system and demands of job market. One of the serious criticism against conclusion of this kind is that it has conceived unemployment among the educated youths out of the daily societal functioning and affairs and hence convinced with the fact that it exits homogeneous in nature. Responding to the same, the proposed study have transcended the boundaries of conclusion of this kind and attempted to envisage the multi-dimensional nature of the unemployment among educated youths of SCs in Chimur tehsil of Chandpur District in Maharashtra.

To be precise about central argument of this study is that the issue of unemployment and underemployment is result of continuous perpetuation of adverse environment which goes beyond the boundaries of HE system and job market and continuous to operate through state and non-state actors. Thus, this environment is backed by socio, economic, political, educational and cultural factors. Furthermore, this exclude, discriminate and exploit the youths belongs to DSGs and SCs in particular at multiple levels for all sort of gains. At the outset of this, government at the centre, states and union territories did not address the issue of unemployment among educated youths in serious manner. Nevertheless, inability of them on one hand and politicisation for pity political gains by ruling political class under different regimes has made situation even worst. Because of this, it has been widely spread across the country and affecting the lives of educated youths. To combat the unemployment among educated youths belongs to SCs, result oriented strategic action plan is required at curative and preventive levels based on the local requirements. Nevertheless, it is expected from them that they do not have to concentrate only upon skill development as the ultimate solution to address the issue of unemployment among educated youths belongs DSGs in general and SCs in particular.

Notes

1. Ati-Shudra means ex-untouchables or Dalits. They are currently referred as Scheduled Castes (SCs) as per the Indian Constitution.

2. Labour force is defined as total number of people who are eligible to work (including employed and unemployed people). It means that total workable population which is eligible to take up an work. For discussion, visit: http://www. collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/labour-force.

3. Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) is defined as the number of persons (employed and unemployed) in the labour force per 1000 persons. For discussion, visit: http://www.labour.nic.in/employment-unemployment-scheme).

4. Annual Report (2015-16) of Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD), GoI have discussed about national and international implications of youths containing share between ranges of 25 to 30 percent in India’s population.

5. See Annual Report of University Grants Commission titled as ‘Higher Education in India at a Glance’ published in the year 2012.

6. Economic Survey of Maharashtra (2015-16) have discussed about the Employment Market Information Programme (EMIP) on page number 168.

7. Directorate of Employment and Self Employment (DoE& SE), GoM is currently known as Directorate of Skill Development, Employment and Entrepreneurship (DoSDE&E), GoM

8. The detailed socio, economic and demographic information of Chandrapur district is discussed in District Census Handbook, Chandrapur. For discussion, visit: http: // www. censusindia. gov. in / 2011census/ dchb / 2713_PART_B_DCHB_%20CHANDRAPUR. pdf.

9. The detailed functioning of the District Skill Development, Employment and Entrepreneurship Guidance Centre (DSDE&EGC) in discussed in Economic Survey of Maharashtra (2015-16).

10. The figures show the actual numbers of applicants those who have registered in District Employment and Self-Employment Guidance Centre, Chandrapur district, Maharashtra. It is important to note that, the figures do not represent whole numbers of Educated Unemployed youths in Chandrapur district.

References:

• Choudhry, S.K. (2007). The Scheduled Castes in Higher Education. Mainstream Weekly, XLV (24), 1-4. Retrieved from https://www.mainstreamweekly.net/article143.html
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