Telangana Polls: Unemployment Becomes an Electoral Issue

Telangana was born on "3N" slogan... Nidhulu, Neellu, and Niyamakalu. Now, crucial “Unemployment” issue has become the main agenda in the Telangana state assembly elections.
Telangana Polls: Unemployment Becomes an Electoral Issue
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Telangana was born on "3N" slogan... Nidhulu, Neellu, and Niyamakalu. Now, crucial “Unemployment” issue has become the main agenda in the Telangana state assembly elections. Currently, all major parties in the state are using the issue as a political weapon. During the Telangana Movement, "Water.. Funds.. Appointments (Nidhulu, Neellu, Niyamakalu) was the slogan of all the people of agitating sections. It is true that the separate state of Telangana was formed only with the self-sacrifice of the unemployed. More than 1200 made their lives sacrifice in the second spell of Telangana movement which begin after the year 2000. Employees, laborers, farmers... a separate state was realized with the struggle of all groups.

Who Shattered Dreams of Jobless Youth?:

After the formation of Telangana as a separate state, Bharat Rashtra Samithi (formerly TRS) government under the leadership of K. Chandrasekhar Rao has been in power for two consecutive terms. The main challenge faced by the government is the problem of unemployment. The BRS government says that more than one lakh and sixty thousand posts have already been filled, and the appointments will be made for another sixty thousand posts that are still vacant. Recently, Minister KT Rama Rao claimed that his government added around 4.5 lakh jobs in IT sector since 2018. Meanwhile, government seems fail in handling the issue of TSPSC leaks; it shattered the confidence of lakhs of job aspirants.

Delays in the release of notifications, court cases when the recruitment process starts, and above all - the Group One paper leakage have made the government unpopular. These elements have been found as good political weapons for both the Congress party and the BJP. As a matter of fact, there is a lot of negative among the youth at the ground level on the issue of unemployment. This is also the reason that leaders of opposition parties are encouraged youth & lawyers to file court cases on notifications for their political interest. At the time elections, all the parties promise to announce a 'job calendar' to woo the votes of unemployed youth.

Politics around the Unemployment Issue:

Actually, State BSP chief RS Praveen Kumar and YSRTP leader YS Sharmila share most of the credit for fighting the unemployment issue. Both of them took up the padayatras and protests and brought attention to the problem. BJP also took up agitation program during the tenure of Bandi Sanjay’s presidency. Various programs were undertaken under the leadership of the Telangana Congress. Apart from criticizing the government, there is little activity at the ground level by Congress. However, national parties are using this issue well during state assembly elections. At present the Congress is showing its presence at this level because of the growing impatience of the people due to the unemployment problem.

Who Creating Recruitment related Legal Hurdles?:

Regardless of politics, the lives of the unemployed are still precarious. The Biswal Committee concluded in its report that there are 1.92 lakh posts are vacant in the state. In such circumstances K. Chandrasekhar Rao government took eight years to release Group-1 notification. At present, those aspirants are waiting for clearance of legal barriers. The answer should come from the side of the ruling party. Reasons for delay in notifications should be disclosed.

Even if the political parties promise to recruit government jobs in such large number, it is not possible in practice. Also proposal of Unemployment Allowance is also a fraudulent guarantee. The only way is to create private jobs by setting up industries and promote the IT & IT enable sectors to grow employment opportunities.

Setting the Agendas on Unemployment Issue:

All the major political parties have made the unemployment issue a political agenda at the time of elections. No one is trying to show a solution with this sincerity. In the current situation, the main parties (BRS, BJP and Congress) victory or defeat is determined by the unemployed youth only. All the three parties are trying to win over the unemployed.

Realizing that the unemployed and educated youth are deeply dissatisfied, Minister KT Rama Rao met the youth at the IT Hub in Hyderabad. He promised to hold a meeting with the youth immediately next day after elections results are announced, in Telangana’s coaching centers hub Ashoknagar, Hyderabad. He promised to announce the "Job Calendar" immediately after the hat-trick victory of BRS.

Now, the problem of unemployment has become a boon for the Congress party. Those who recall the experiences faced when the Congress party was in power in the past do not believe the promises of the party so easily. But it is becoming an opportunity for the Congress as there is growing discontent with the BRS. So, Congress giving assurances on release of job calendar, dates of job notifications have already been announced.

Congress has announced in its election manifesto that two lakh jobs will be filled in the first year after coming to power. But the question is whether recruitment for two lakh jobs in a single year is feasible when the total number of employees in Telangana government is not more than three and a half lakh. There is no clarity on this from the Congress side.

Ways to Reduce the Unemployment Problem:

Certainly, the problem of unemployment is a major one. Also it is not possible for any party to give government jobs to all the unemployed. Present data showing that half of the revenue is already spent on salaries of government employees. Pensions of retired employees are becoming an unsustainable burden. Some departments do not have enough employees.

Government records show that in some of the departments - there are more number of employees than required. Some departments are facing shortage of man power. Education system is a good example of this. In these circumstances, if the posts are created beyond the requirement and recruited, it will be more burden on the government.

An honest solution to the problem of unemployment should be found. Accusing governments for politics and creating confusion among the youth is not the right way. It should not be forgotten that whichever party comes to power, this problem will also exists. This problem exists now. Always has. Not only here in the Telangana, but also in other states of the country. It is also in developed countries like Unite States of America. But a reasonable solution is not available to any government in our country. As long as the only objective is to win votes with impracticable promises due to political interest, unemployment issue will continue to be a problem.

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