Why the unemployment rate in the North East is a cause for concern

If you have ever travelled to the North East, belong to the region, or have loved ones that are locals, it is quite likely that you have fallen in love with the culture in some form or another. We all know someone who came back from a trip to Nagaland, Meghalaya or Assam and was just awestruck. If you have tried to learn more about the region, you would be amazed to come across its rich history, the beauty that it carries, and the many struggles the region has been through over the decades. Even to this day, when most Indians think of their country, they ignore a huge part of the nation: the seven sisters. Not only are people unaware of the everyday lives of people from the North East, but we also fail to recognise the struggles they go through, be it in leading their lives back at home or when they are leaving home to earn a living on the mainland. One of the biggest challenges that the people of the North East struggle with is unemployment.

The unemployment rate in the region is almost double that of the national average. Despite having the talent, the drive, and the willingness to make a good life for themselves, the people of the North East seem to face an even steeper uphill climb than the rest of the population when it comes to creating a happy and fulfilling life. However, it is time we stopped to consider why this is the case. Why is it that the few that do well for themselves are forced to leave the region, study, and earn a living far away from their family and the culture they have fought so hard to preserve? Can we provide these citizens with a different story of success?

The only way that we can find the answers to these very pertinent questions is by identifying where the problem really lies and tackling the root of the issues. So, let us explore the factors behind the high rate of unemployment in the North East.

• A large and growing population

While this is not a problem unique to just one region in India, the concern regarding the growing population is one we need to account for if we are to solve the issue of unemployment. The population of Northeast India is growing at a faster rate than the national average. A few of the reasons include a high birth rate, a larger population of youngsters, and an influx of migrants from neighbouring areas. The increase in population is putting a strain on resources and leading to a rise in poverty, crime, and environmental degradation.

• A lack of job opportunities in the region

Here are some statistics that will shock you! The unemployment rate in north-east India is 5.73%, which is higher than the national average of 3.4%. The state of Assam has the highest rate of unemployment within the region and the third highest within the country. The youth unemployment rate in north-east India is 18.1%, which is much higher than the national average of 13.1%. This paints an extremely grim picture, doesn't it? But, on the other hand, the majority of unemployed people in north-east India are educated, with a large number of graduates and postgraduates. So what could be the reason behind the shortage of opportunities? Here are a few: the region's remote location and difficult terrain, along with a lack of industrial development. While educated unemployment is primarily a concern in the urban region, the fact of the matter is that this phenomenon is occurring due to a mismatch between employment generation and labour supply. These factors make it hard to encourage industrial development and create an infrastructure that is conducive to higher education and the building industry.

• A lack of skills and training in the workforce

There is a lack of investment in education and training. The Northeast has historically been neglected in terms of investment in education and training. This has led to a shortage of skilled workers in the region. There is also a mismatch between skills and jobs, which makes it hard to find employment. The skills that are taught in schools and colleges in the North East are often not the skills that are in demand in the job market. The lack of investment in education means that the region does not attract the right talent in terms of teachers and professors, and the only people that can access high-quality education are the ones that can shell out the money to attend expensive schools or move away for their education. There is inadequate infrastructure, which has made it difficult for businesses to set up shop in the region. This has led to a lack of job opportunities in the region. The language barrier is yet another factor that influences the modes of training available to the local population. The North East is home to a number of different languages, along with several different dialects, which means that for young students to be educated further and trained in the languages, we would require an adequate number of instructors along with a standard that is set for students across institutes. The lack of common ground in terms of language has, over time, made it difficult for businesses to communicate with potential employees in the region, discouraging them from returning to hire in the future.

Now that we have recognised the challenges that have created such a high unemployment rate, let us discuss what can be done to address the problem.

• Investing in job creation programmes
• Providing training and skills development programmes
• Promoting entrepreneurship
• Attracting investment to the region

The region needs a comprehensive plan to create jobs, train the workforce, and attract investment. Here are some concrete steps that can lead to an increase in job creation, an improvement in training, the promotion of an entrepreneurial mindset, and an increase in investment:

• Improve the MSMEs sector in north-east India. The MSMEs sector is a major source of employment in India and has contributed nearly 8% to the country's GDP. The MSME sector is also responsible for 45% of the country's manufacturing output and about 50% of its exports. In addition, under the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises Development Act of 2006, small to medium businesses will be given aid by the central government when they avail of loans or are looking for assistance in terms of technology, infrastructure, or marketing. By improving the MSMEs sector in North East India, the government can create more jobs for the region's youth and encourage people to feel more ownership over their lives and employment. This will also promote development in rural and semi-rural areas, which will give birth to innovation.
• Provide skill development courses. The government can provide skill development courses to the youth of Northeast India. These courses need to be focused on specific job roles and within specific industries, along with industry-relevant training that can only be provided by professionals who have industry experience and expertise. These industries can include healthcare, hospitality, education, etc. Since the region does rely on tourism, it is important that the local population is well-trained to take up these roles so that they can help provide an authentic experience to tourists while also earning a living for their families. For the successful nurturing, development, and overall health of any area, it is important to have well-trained healthcare professionals who have the opportunity to continuously upskill themselves. This is a huge challenge that the region, especially the rural areas of the Northeast is grappling with to this day. There is a lack of trained and adequate manpower to tackle the health needs of the region, and there is also an acute shortage of free medicines for the poor population. Moreover, there is a dearth of government buildings that can help provide the local population with quality healthcare. The primary healthcare centres and sub-centres do not have the required resources to help meet the needs of the population, which is leading to a rise in the number of health-related challenges within the population. This is why it is absolutely crucial for the private and government sectors to work together to improve the quality of instruction within the education system and increase overall investment in industries such as healthcare and technology. This will help surgeons, midwives, radiologists, and other such professionals develop the much-needed expertise that will help improve the lives of their own communities.
• Transform agriculture into the secondary and tertiary sectors. The agriculture sector is the main source of employment in northeast India. However, the productivity of the agriculture sector is low. The government can help transform the agriculture sector by providing farmers with access to better technology and inputs. This will help increase productivity and create more jobs in the agriculture sector.
• Stimulate the entrepreneurial mindset among the youth of the Northeast region. The government can stimulate the entrepreneurial mindset among the youth of Northeast India by providing them with financial assistance and other support. While the government is working with smaller and midsize businesses to help ease their operations, it will also be highly beneficial if the entrepreneurial mindset is inculcated in the citizens from a young age. The state, the country, and the world can really benefit from young students having dreams that they wish to pursue in the future. One key aspect for these dreams to survive is the attitude of just wanting to do something yourself or find a way out no matter what, which is essentially what the entrepreneurship mindset is. This will help them start their own businesses, create jobs for themselves and others, and create success stories that the generations to come will look up to in admiration.
• Provide policy incentives in the area of self-help groups by the government. The government can provide policy incentives in the area of self-help groups. This will give the self-help groups access to credit and other resources, which will help them create more jobs.

The high unemployment rate in Northeast India has a number of negative consequences. It leads to poverty, crime, and social unrest. It also discourages young people from staying in the region, which further exacerbates the problem. However, once we acknowledge the problem and work with the population to address the issue based on their needs, we will be able to improve the lives of our fellow citizens and contribute to the region's economic development. Overall, we will come one step closer to witnessing the north-east of India become a thriving economy with an abundance of resources and an improved quality of life for the locals.