In any country’s political landscape, the mere act of winning elections should not be the end goal. The essence of democracy carries a weighty significance, which is the only truth upon which our electoral system is based. Political parties exist not solely to stoke division through religion or case-based rhetoric but also to address the pressing issues that confront a nation. The ultimate aim of political parties is to serve the welfare of the people. India’s vibrant youth are facing a harsh reality: increased unemployment rate, reported instances of paper leaks, no social security for the youth of the country engaged in the “gig economy”. Rahul Gandhi’s “Yuva Nyay” aims to solve all these issues related to the youth of this country.
Existing unemployment crises in the country
According to the data from the Centre for Monitoring the Indian Economy, there is about 44.49% of the youth unemployment rate in the country. Let’s further crush these numbers: from a modest 2.1% total unemployment rate in 2012 we have surged to 6.1% in 2018, as per the National Survey Organization’s Periodic Labour Force Survey. Postgraduates have a 36.2% unemployment rate, while graduates face a challenging 35.8%. Unemployment is hitting the youth of this country hard, like a ton of bricks. The New Education Policy, 2020 aims to increase the higher education enrollment rate to 50% by 2035. Great goal, but how is it going to happen when our top graduates are still sending out resumes for job opportunities with no luck? Let’s not forget, all of this happened during the BJP’s tenure. The bad memories!
In the light of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)’s mismanagement and callous attitude towards the youth, we see Rahul Gandh’s vision of “Yuva Nyay”. This is not just a slogan, it is a heartbeat for millions of young Indians who are either looking for job opportunities, preparing for competitive exams or thinking of starting their own venture. Let’s hope other political parties are taking notes.
Bharati Bharosa
“Bharati Bharosa” promises to fill 30 lakh government vacancies across various sectors, providing a tangible roadmap for job seekers.
Let’s picture this with an example: Ramesh is a 27-year-old engineering graduate from a small town named “Bhilai”. For years, Ramesh and his parents have dreamt of a stable government job. However, because of the lack of opportunities, the future of Ramesh is uncertain. But not anymore! With the Congress’ commitment to fill 30 lakh government vacancies, Ramesh sees a glimmer of hope. He now knows that these vacancies aren’t just numbers on paper; they are real opportunities for him and millions of others like him. As he scrolls through the list of upcoming government job openings, he can imagine himself working as an engineer in a government company.
Pehli Naukri Pakki
Imagine a world where every young diploma holder or college graduate under 25 has a shot at their “Pehli Naukri Pakki” through the Apprenticeship Act. This isn’t just a dream; it’s a reality. Every young individual is guaranteed an apprenticeship with a private or public sector company, earning Rs 1 lakh per year. This is a promise of opportunity for freshers seeking their first job.
Let’s picture this: Aarti, a 23-year-old engineering graduate, has just completed her studies. Like many of her peers, she faces the challenge of finding her first job in a competitive market. But with Pehli Naukri Pakki, Aarti’s future looks promising.
Paper Leak Se Mukti
The Congress guarantees new laws to ensure the highest standards for conducting public examinations, so that the paper leaks no longer shatter the dreams of crores of young minds. This initiative is born out of the glaring blunders of the BJP government, where paper leaks have become all too common. We can only imagine the anger and distress of students who have invested years preparing for exams, only to have their hard work undermined by leaked papers!
Let’s take the case of Abdullah, a 23-year-old preparing for the exam of police constable in UP. He has spent years preparing for this entrance exam. On the day of the test, he arrives at the examination centre only to find out that the paper has been already circulated to a few of the students through the social media platform, “Telegram”. He is filled with anger and agitation as he realises that his chances of a fair and merit-based selection has been compromised. But with the Congress’ initiative of “Paper Leak Se Mukti”, Abdullah and countless others like him can breathe a sigh of relief.
Congress’s Yuva Nyay is a prominent feature of party’s manifesto.
Gig economy and social security
Gig economy and social security is to ensure better working conditions and social security for lakhs of youth who seek employment.
Let’s picture this scenario: Joseph, a 25-year-old food delivery partner, works for a food delivery company. He has the flexibility of choosing his own working hours, which allows him to balance his work with his studies. In that way, he is financially supporting himself to sustain in a big metropolitan city. However, as a gig worker, Joseph faces uncertainties. His income fluctuates depending on the number of deliveries he makes. This is where “Gig Economy & Social Security” comes into play. This initiative helps crores of people like Joseph, ensuring they don’t fall through the cracks of the gig economy. Joseph, despite being a gig worker, is entitled to social security benefits.
Yuva Roshini
The Congress will create a Rs 5,000 crore corpus, with allotments spread across all districts of the country for a period of five years. Youth below the age of 40 years can avail start-up funding for their business enterprises in any sector.
Imagine a scenario where a young entrepreneur named “Asha” dreams of starting her own startup of “Online Food Delivery”. However, like many aspiring business owners, Asha faces the challenge of securing funding to turn his vision into reality. Here enters the Congress’ initiative, this means Asha, and other ambitious youth under the age of 40, can access start-up funding for their business ventures in any sector. With this support, Asha can finally take a leap of faith in her “Online Food Delivery” start-up.
Tackling unemployment: Congress past successes
We can always judge what a political party can do when it comes to power by looking at its previous track record. According to data from the Centre for Monitoring the Indian Economy, Chhattisgarh had an unemployment rate of just 0.6% in March 2022, when the country as a whole had an unemployment rate of 7.6%. This was done under the tenure of the Indian National Congress at Chhattisgarh. The promises of the party are not just rhetoric, it is based on past achievements and the commitment to the betterment of youth and this country. Actions always speak louder than words, and the INC has shown it can deliver.
Conclusion
With the Lok Sabha elections in 2024 upon us, it is time to put forward the issues of our youth. They are the real nation-builders, the architects of our future. The Indian National Congress’ “Yuva Nyay” is not just a catchy slogan, it is a genuine belief in our youth.
As we eagerly await the reactions of the people, other political parties, and the media, let us hope it is for the betterment and welfare of the youth of this country. The youth of this country are not just the audience, they are the leading actors, the directors of change! “Yuva Nyay” isn’t just a promise but a commitment to a brighter, more empowered tomorrow for our youth and our nation as a whole.
Jitu Patwari is the president of the Madhya Pradesh Congress Committee.
