Skip to main content

Thoughts Employment Punjab

 Thoughts – Employment Punjab.

I am just recollecting instances from twenty years ago. As a District Dev Mgr I would travel across the districts of Ropar, Nawanshahr and SAS Nagar. We had financed a large number of projects across multiple sectors. Drinking water supply projects for villages would have contractor from Punjab certainly, but the digging of trenches would be by labour from Kashmir, the Overhead tanks were constructed by labour from UP Gorakhpur generally, masons from UP and Bihar, laying of pipelines by skilled workers from Bengal and Bihar. I found at a few places drilling of tube wells in hard rock by labour from MP but the machinery was owned very much by businessmen from Punjab. Regarding roads again the contractors and owners of machinery were from Punjab but the skilled labour and labour and overseers for bridges, culverts, roads etc were all from other states, including Jharkhand and Odisha. A similar scenario was there in Irrigation projects including lining of canals. Officers would often say the best plumbers were from Odisha. All these projects generated substantial employment but for citizens from other states. We have to realise this. I have asked around and am told it is largely accurate to say so even now. There is a community angle too. Once I tried a skill development initiative for Carpenters at site, with a large business focused on woodwork. Dr Ram Singh, the Dy Dir Animal Husbandry associated closely. He and the owner of the workshop cum business told me the boys from the main farming community would not undertake such job work within Punjab but abroad. I told them it is still Ok, though some young men were very curious about how a trainer from a non farming community (Tarkhans) would handle the clannish boys. Its these issues which impact us. Then the only options left are farming, the forces, Govt jobs and the like. The poorer sections get impacted the maximum within such societal prejudices. Agriculture in any case requires a degree of diversification for agribusinesses to evolve. And with a cash strapped Government after the substantial outlay on subsidised electricity, then funds would be scarce for the developmental push including creating the infrastructure. Education and importantly awareness is the key and also encouraging small businesses and entrepreneurship. The desire and hunger for employment opportunities, stability and incomes is there but the creation of the atmosphere and societal acceptance for a more varied employment profile has also to be there. Food for thought I think.
PS - The State Governments across India know this issue. They look at the productivity of the economy. The emotional outbursts are more for the middle class and their more educated children. Even then, the youth have to be encouraged to orient their thoughts and ambitions as stated. Plus in lieu of subsidies on power and transport, it would be better to focus on infrastructure and the creation of a manufacturing cum services base.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Forgotten Unsung Heroes of the Battle of Madhumati. 1971. Bangladesh. 45 Cavalry.

  The Forgotten Unsung Heroes of the Battle of Madhumati. 1971. Bangladesh. 45 Cavalry. By Dinesh K Kapila  (Chief General Manager (Retd). NABARD (As discussed with Major General (then Major) Pramod   Kumar Batra, Retd and Other Veterans)   Just a Glimpse – Cdr 62 Mountain Brigade – “Pramod, I believe it is hard to maneuver PT 76 tanks in this terrain and waters”. Pat is the answer, “it is hard and I may struggle, but you will never see me to give up or fai”l. They stood together, on the edge of the swift flowing Madhumati, the staff and soldiers waiting. It was dark. Very Dark. After waiting for some time the Bde Cdr had said, “lets go”. Major PK Batra vividly recollects even now watching the Cdr's face as he looked at the map with a torch. He was calm and very quiet, showing ,no fear or afraid and maintaining a dignified silence. He remembered the old saying, "Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown". It was a moment in not only the life of the Brigade Co...
17 comments
Read more

This Obsession with death and staying as a memory

  This Obsession with death and staying as a memory Dinesh K Kapila I watch quite a few channels dealing with religion or spirituality in the morning hours. Have to. Suitably trained by wifey over the years !! Specially post retirement. ! Not grumbling, I do clarify ! Our viewing can cross religions and sects, no problems on that. However, something I must point out is this obsession with death, of many discourses, many a preacher or sant or priest or whatever we label them, they have to mention death and to state we need to be prepared for it. This period of life we all live is just a journey, a short journey between birth and death. Hell is a reality. Be ready. Heaven awaits us. Narak and Bhagwan Yama and Swarg. Janat. All this gets stressed or mentioned. A direct correlation is often drawn, praying and following certain pathways and in some cases even undertaking certain actions or rituals will only lead to peace and harmony and eternal freedom or Moksha, in the hereafter. So...
Post a Comment
Read more

Wars and Compassion at Ground Zero

  Wars and Compassion at Ground Zero by Dinesh K Kapila   (Note - As related By Major General PK Batra, AVSM (Retd).   45 Cavalry) General Batra and my late father, Major General Rajendra Nath, PVSM (Retd) go back a long way. Their bonds were forged in the din of bitterly fought battles in Bangladesh in 1971, where Dad Commanded 62 Mountain Brigade and then Major PK Batra commanded the A Squadron of 45 Cavalry. About these bonds I will write separately. And their battles. This story, well, it’s different. It’s from Another War. 1965. And touched my heart. It really did.   Where do I come in, well, I got connected with Major General PK Batra over the years as I deem it an honour to be connected to my father’s comrades in arms.     Wars are not only about death, bullets and blood and guts but also acts of caring and compassion. A barbed fencing or a wall can only create a superficial barrier but can not run through the hearts of people who were part of ...
2 comments
Read more