Enough jobs, but candidates from North-India lack skills: BJP leader
The ruling BJP-led central government's blame-game over the ongoing economic slowdown does not seem to end. This time, it is Santosh Gangwar, Minister of State (Independent) in the Ministry of Labor and Employment, who "enlightened" us with his gem of a statement. He said there are are enough jobs in the country, but few skilled personnel, especially in North India.
Speaking at his Parliamentary constituency, Bareilly, upon completion of the Narendra Modi-led government's 100 days in office, Gangwar said, "There is no lack of job opportunities in the country. The recruiters coming to north India often complain that they find very few candidates with the required skills for specific posts." However, the Union Minister has now offered an explanation for his comments.
"I am looking after the same ministry and I monitor the situation on a daily basis," Gangwar had further said. However, after his comments sparked controversy, he defended himself by saying, "What I had said was in a different context. I said that there is a lack of skill and our government has started skill ministry and we are giving skill training to youth."
#WATCH MoS Labour Employment, Santosh K Gangwar says, "Desh mein rozgaar ki kami nahi hai. Humare Uttar Bharat mein jo recruitment karne aate hain is baat ka sawaal karte hain ki jis padd (position) ke liye hum rakh rahe hain uski quality ka vyakti humein kum milta hai." (14/9) pic.twitter.com/qQtEQA89zg
— ANI (@ANI) September 15, 2019
Now, here's what numbers say. In May this year, unemployment rate in India was estimated at a 45-year-high of 6.1% in FY 2017-18. After a lot of wishy-washy comments and a series of denials, the figure was confirmed by the newly-appointed central government, just a day after PM Modi was sworn-in for the second consecutive term.
In a broader sense, economic growth in India is going though one its worst phases in recent times. The GDP growth rate of the Indian economy has dropped to 5% in the first quarter of fiscal year 2019-20, the lowest in more than six years. Moreover, India's automobile sector is striving for survival; consumer demand has fallen, and manufacturing sector is failing to perform.
Meanwhile, this is not the first gaffe by BJP leaders. Earlier this week, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman received a lot of flak, after she blamed the auto sector crisis in the country upon millennials' preference of using online cab-booking services such as Ola and Uber, instead of committing to EMIs to buy vehicles. Her naive comments were heavily criticized by the Opposition.
