Page 18 - 1 to 18 August 2020

Imphal Times Supplementary issue Page No. 2
Rural Unemployment & Agriculture

By: SanjenbamJugeshwor Singh yield has increased and is the third selling price for the farmers is 15- people who don’t have enough land
Think of a better India, essentially is a rural nation largest producer by value. However 50% below Minimum Support or workplace as daily wagers are in
real trouble. The lack of cash in hand
Price(MSP).The sowing season is
the sector realize only 50 to 60% of
is a problem and this will prompt
its potential. Price realization is
nearing completion and strain in the
solution than where agriculture, horticulture, affected by the APMC(Agricultural rural labor market will be visible in people to go back to urban areas
again despite the bad living
the coming weeks. How can farming
Produce Market Committee)Act and
handicraft, fisheries, poultry and
Lockdown or curfew dairy are the major contribution to middlemen. In rural India, sowing be made a sustainable occupation? condition there. This is where non-
the rural economy.Yet the
season is nearing end. The rural
The agriculture sector employs over
farm activities and white color jobs
in regional level will be of help. The
contributions of agriculture has
52% of the workforce contributing
unemployment rate climbed to 7.1%
been dwindling, creating a space for in the week ended 19 July 2020 to to only 14% of the GDP. Incomes Mahatma Gandhi National Rural
inequities.Here, unemployment is 6.34% recorded in the previous have been stagnant over the last Employment Guarantee Scheme
For a state like Manipur which is not so sound economically, to mainly due to the shortage of capital, week, according to fresh data from decades with the average worker (MGNREGS) is helpful but may not
test all people of the state is impossible even though that is the the poor exploitation of natural Centre for Monitoring Indian earning less than 60-70% of the be able to take pressure off and
best solution. Fear, anxiety, apprehension is a human phenomenon. resources and inadequate Economy (CMIE).This is still below income of their counterparts in the absorb all the people during the
Every people in the state too are no different as they are a human employment opportunities.The main the figure for the week before India city. As in urban areas witnessing rainy season, who were earlier
being. issue lies in the character of the job went to lockdown on 25 th March but sporadic lockdown to contain the largely deployed in agricultural
as agriculture is dependent upon the economists feel it will see a gradual spread of novel coronavirus, the activities.CMIE data shows that
At this time of the COVID crisis, everyone is showing its serious benevolence of nature.It is the rain climb in the coming weeks and July slow reopening of business will limit rural employment scenario is much
concern. Those in the health care sectors, law enforcers, district that makes the sector thrive and may not see job creation picking up the faster recovery that the country better in recent weeks but “we must
administers, and particularly club members are playing their role to unfortunately India has rains last much. Overall national saw in June. With labor moving to take note that a higher labor force
contain the virus with every means they could. But the invisible for only 3-4 months.In addition,it is unemployment also inched up to rural India and depressed consumer participation “rate in agriculture
enemy keeps invading us. We the people should not have a a labour - intensive job, whereas in 7.94% in the week ended 19 July demand income could drop about means, only a marginal growth in
preconception mind of speculating the spread of the virus at the the present era,no one prefers to toil from 7.44%, the previous week. 10-20%. Agriculture and food productivity of labor. Immediate
community level, as the negligence of those front line warriors who throughout the year. Naturally,there However urban employment processing GDP contribution has to income growth is not there. There
are responsible for protecting the people. This is stated because all has been a major shift in remains the bigger concern, as it rise to close to 20% while surplus are other ways: increased price
people are hero from their own perspective, everything they have dependency on agriculture as their continues to stay high and its labor needs to be deployed in realization for the farmers so that
been trying is to save the people. But what went wrong? Why is it main source of income.From 60%,it decline has been slower. The urban manufacturing and food they get most of the consumer
that despite the many efforts the virus now has spread at the is constantly reducing owing to joblessness rate come down processing.However the country’s surplus and use of technology and
community level? How come people tested with the dreaded virus problems like price fluctuations, marginally to 9.78% from 9.92% food processing value addition at supply aggregation platforms for
were stigmatized when the virus was contracted with them for no draught,flood, pest and diseases during the same period, according the moment is less than 10% of the storage, logistics and better price
immoral behaviors or activities?
outbreak etc,which brings to CMIE, reflecting the stubborn produce while for most developed discovery. There is potential to
uncertainty income. Agriculture in formal sector jobs space that is economies there is 100 to 300%. The create a segment of processed and
Whether the state health department accepted or not, we are in Indian context is a seasonal directly influenced by the existing sector needs to grow at 5% per branded food to increase farmers’
the fourth stage of the pandemic. From a clique of persons who occupation and there is always a business environment, which is annum which is double the income. The country should follow
return from outside the state, the virus now had reached out to heavy demand for labour at the time improving very slowly.Economists historical growth. a five point agenda reforms: focus
health workers and to common people who had no travel history or
How do we ensure adequate
to those who do not have the idea of how the virus has infected of sowing, wedding and harvesting and experts said, labor market will remuneration for farmers? on sustainable yield improvements
through scientific farming practices;
see tougher challenge over the next
whereas in slack season demand for
them and from where. The fact is that there is community labour falls considerably.In rained couple of months both in the rural Increasing remuneration via MSP improve agricultural marketing to
transmission and that the matter should be deal by finding a perfect
policy that will be adapted with the society of Manipur without agriculture, farmersremain areas and urban pockets. Monsoon has drawbacks. It couldn’t be increase farmer’s price realization
unemployed for four to six months
is expected to pick up in parts of
through policy changes; set up an
enforced beyond three states and it
delaying by accepting the fact that “Community transmission” has in a year.Because of illiteracy, India bringing along with it natural triggered food inflation and Integrated Agriculture Export
begun. Before things get worst, it is time that the government act poverty and poor health,they are calamities such as floods, which will macroeconomic instability. The Mission to scale up food processing
but not to the will and desires of those in the top post. Forget about unable to avail some alternative restrict activities in the agriculture center and states must devise a and exports to increase value
the Chief Minister and his cabinet Ministers, those bureaucrats
whose responsibility and duty is to advise the ministry are not employment opportunity during sector and partially limit low-end strategy for the growth of non-farm addition from 10% to 50%; promote
direct marketing through farmer
sector in rural India which can help
self-employment activities. India’s
this period.India should urgently
competent enough to take decisions of their own in respect of this look at comprehensive reforms to rural unemployment rate has started absorb people in decent jobs. The producer Organization; and
pandemic. The only solution for this crisis period is proper planning
which should be framed in consultation with various experts in the make agriculture a sustainable and moving upward with the summer slow recovery of business and urge seriously work on reforms in the
crop sowing season drawing to an
agriculture sector.
tomeet cost by employers for
scalable industry. Where does
field. Bureaucrats, who come from a medical background or India’s agriculture stand now? The end. Except for few crops (rice, survival has a direct impact on rural
sociological background should not underestimate those experts in
the profession who are presently engaging in their respective field country has made big stride in wheat) and a few states ( Punjab, employment. Farmers with a good The writer can be reached to:
sjugeshwor7@gmail.com
agriculture post liberalization, the
Haryana, Andhra Pradesh) the
land holding are doing fine but
as the wisdom of those dedicating their whole energy obviously
have more innovative ideas which is practical and applicable to the
society. Manipur Home returnees, unemployment and ILPS
Same old policy like the imposition of lockdown, curfew etc.
cannot be utilized as usual as the nature of spread is different today. By Lunsieh Kipgen, IPS employment and earning sectors and settle permanently. They remit and unregulated entry of non
When it comes to the local level, and started transmission at the such as construction works the money they earned from here locals from mainland India into the
community level, definitely there is an urgent need for formulation At least fifty thousand natives requiring skilled, semi-skilled and to their families in their home states. state so that they don’t deprive
of a program as done earlier during HIV and AIDS pandemic. By of Manipur state have returned unskilled labour. In cities these They go home once a while to visit the natives of their land,
setting up the Manipur State AIDS Control Society and from various parts of the country home returnees are said to be their families carrying with them employment opportunities and
implementation of certain work programme under the strict policy to their home state in the wake of employed in less physical strength cash they have saved over a period income. The state government had
have reduced and put under control the spread of HIV and AIDS. covid-19 pandemic. A large chunk requirement jobs like private of time. collected a sum of Rs. 100,00,000
Now, the state needs to think of a plan which may be not similar to of these home returnees are said security guards, staff jobs in hotel, Since the locals are not willing (one crore) revenue from seven
the way that was taken up for controlling the spread of HIV and to have been working in restaurant, shopping malls and to work in many types of menial ILPS check gates in a span of one
AIDS. Because SAR-CoV-2 is different, its character is still studying unorganised and semi-organised tourism sectors. Some more jobs the non locals cannot be and a half months starting from the
and so far no medicine to cure the COVID-19 has been so far invented sectors in different parts of the educated groups with knowledge blamed for coming into the state first date of ILPS implementation
even though the world is trying. But saying so, we have to live and country. They are not migrant of English language and computer and earning in areas of work where on January 1, 2020. This is
not as prisoners. In the name of containing the virus, people can’t labourers working in factories/ reportedly worked in call centres locals are not engaged. In fact the reasonably a big revenue amount.
be put as prisoners at home all the time. And nobody knows how industries or in the agriculture of the corporate world, etc. These locals should be thankful to the Around 33,500 ILPS passes were
long the virus will be with us. A separate cell like that of MACS sector. They earn wages relatively youths earn wages/salaries non locals for coming and doing issued during this period. The
perhaps may bring some solution. And the guidelines need to be better than the migrant workers enough at least for their own things they (locals) don’t have the ILPS revenue collection rate
properly framed by collecting all suggestions and recommendations whose exodus from cities to their sustenance and maintenance. Even skill or the will to do. But it is simply would of course fluctuate as fresh
from experts of all stakeholders. native states too has been some of them save part of their inexcusable for the local youths to pass costs more and renewal rate
witnessed in the wake of the income to support their relatives leave a vacuum in the blue collared less. The fresh passes were issued
On the other hand, the idea of mass testing is not possible we country wide lockdown. Once back home or a sibling studying jobs and crib about absence of not only from border gates but
know that, but the government should not make any mistake to thrown out of job the working force and staying with them in the cities. working and earning avenues. The also in various valley district
utilize all it has to make sure that people are tested at the maximum have no option but to return to their The problem with them now is that local unemployed youths are big concerned offices to those who
level. The Chief Minister, Health Minister, and other authorities of home. Unemployment rate in India most of them may not like to be potential income earners in the were already here.
the department have been saying that Manipur at present had the and elsewhere is already a big engaged in agriculture or more “dignified” jobs like But then revenue
capacity of testing over 2000 samples per day. Had these Ministers problem. Manipur is no exception. construction sectors after construction sector requiring consideration is never the reason
and authority ever inspected that even though the state had now Insurgency in the state is already returning to their home state. The unskilled, semi skilled and skilled for ILPS demand for years. Its
machines to test the virus to over 2000 sample, does all the required linked to unemployment problem. sudden change of life style from labour. Masonry, carpentry, tiles primary objective as stated earlier
kits and reagents for testing of the virus have been made available Manipur has got a name as home city to village/small town would work, plumbing work, electrical is to prevent smarming of non
to them? Sample collection these days have been reportedly reduced to a large number of armed militant certainly create imbalance. The fitting, painting works, petty shop locals in the state which could
but complaints about not being tested by collecting sample are groups. The irony with Manipur is sense of frustration with job lost keeping, etc. are huge employment eventually create socio-eco-
heard every single day. There is a loophole, even as all those working that despite covid scare and must have contributed to the recent avenues and reasonably high politico-cultural and demographic
in the sector spend all their energy to make sure that people are implementation of the Inner Line inmate unrest witnessed in several income earning avenues in the imbalance. If over thirty thousand
safe. Permit System (ILPS) in the state Institutional and Community state. The local unemployed ILPS passes could be issued in less
the influx of non locals from Quarantine centres where home youths including home returnees than two months then the number
The best machinegun without bullets during war times seems to mainland India continue to be returnees are lodged for a required can certainly be absorbed in these of non locals present in the state
have no values and a similar thing is sense in the VRDLs of both unabated thereby indirectly period. areas of employment. When these could well just be imagined. Non
RIMS and JNIMS. These should be checked. And why these VRDLs depriving the natives (locals) of Around forty thousand and employment opportunities are locals continue to pour in even
are getting only 600/700 samples per day when they have the employment opportunities in the even more non locals from captured mostly by the non locals during this covid lockdown has
capacity to test over 2000 samples. Why could not the health process and draining the state’s mainland India are engaged in we are shouting our voice hoarse irked valley based pressure
authority collect more samples so that more people get tested? money unnoticed. different employment avenues in for ILPS. Skills and semi skills can groups including the JCILPS. The
The bulk of Manipur home Manipur at a time. They are be acquired over a short period of continued incoming of non locals
This COVID-19 pandemic is no joke. It has a tendency to uproot returnees are from the age group engaged in different trades ranging time. It is just our wrong mentality is possible as construction related
the whole society. And without proper policy, it is affecting all. This between 20 and 40. Those in from barber, cobbler and cart puller and absence sense of dignity of works are exempted from the
lockdown which is on should not be wasted. The need of the hour government service or working in to construction workers and small labour that prevents us from lockdown.
is to frame policy with ideas from all experts. organised sectors could work from time businesses. They are seen taking up trades which can Manipur is considered a good
home and so they never formed a engaged in different construction provide a decent living. earning destination by non locals
Letters, Feedback and Suggestions to ‘Imphal Times’ part of the train loads home activities and petty businesses The introduction of ILPS in from mainland India. The presence
can be sent to our e-mail : imphaltimes@gmail.com. For advertisement returnee group. Most of these even in the rural villages of the the state from first January 2020 of a large number of non local work
kindy contact: - 0385-3590330 (O). For time being readers can reach the returnees are in their prime youth state. The non locals here stay in was a long cherished dream force never make labour cheap
office at Cell Phone No. 9862860745 for any purpose. and would fit in most of the rented houses, work and earn. fulfilled for Manipur. Its main either.
physical strength demanding They never come here to buy land objective is to deny unhindered (Contd. on Page 3)