By Rani Punnasseril

New Delhi, April 26, 2022: If the new data from the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE) is true, it is quite alarming for an atma nirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India).

I understand the Mumbai-based private research firm speaks about professionals or skilled people who have left job for various reasons.

The firm has warned that India’s job creation problem is morphing into a greater threat. It says more than half the 900 million Indians of legal working age don’t want a job. Some media say the number is 90 million but Bloomberg puts it at 900 million.

The Mumbai firm also warns the latest numbers are an ominous harbinger when India bets on young workers to drive growth.

What is really alarming is that about 21 million women have disappeared from the workforce in India. They were reportedly frustrated at not being able to find the right kind of job.

It is true many have quit their jobs because of non-feasibility of work, work hours, underpayment, stress, and unfriendly environment. Many lost jobs during the pandemic in the cities.

The job loss is taking a toll on human lives. Recently a woman attempted suicide at Delhi’s Askshardham metro station. The woman from Punjab had reportedly lost her job a few days ago. The number of suicide cases reveals the stress people undergo. According to the data of the research firm, such trends are dangerous to a nation like India. People see no hope for the future and want to end their lives.

Everyone longs for a peaceful and stress-free life. Those who quit the job have their reasons and economic situations/crises are not a reason for them because either they have their ancestral wealth or have enormous financial resources to back them up.

Many factories, shops and vending carts remain closed and people are looking for jobs — both skilled and unskilled.

I get job requests every day and most people are ready to do any available work even though their expertise is something else. Citing some cases with names changed to respect their privacy.

Berni from Meerut was engaged with the construction company in Noida but lost the job at the first lockdown. He had made all plans to start an independent work in Gurugram but it now remains a dream. He is running from pillar to post to get medical help for his five-year-old daughter who is affected with autism.

In another case, Steve, a painter in Delhi, who lost his job now pleads with agents to hire him.

Shakeela, a widow with three children and an inter-state migrant worker in Delhi, had to shut her petty shop in a slum area as she could continue the business. The native of Bihar’s Madhubani district is in a dilemma as she has no courage to take a loan with a huge interest.

Shalu, a sales woman with two children from Uttar Pradesh, was working in a jewellery shop. During the second wave, she was asked to leave the shop as there were not enough sales. She now begs for her children’s education as the schools has started demanding fees.

Gaur, a home nurse from Allahabad, was working in a house looking after an elderly woman. When her employer started work from home norm she sent Gauri away saying she had time to take care of her mother. Being a single parent, Gauri had to educate her only daughter, besides feeding her. She has to pay rent and other expenses. with tears in her eyes and pain in her heart she approached many. She had a hard time during the pandemic.

Several domestic workers lost jobs as the employers had the option of remaining at home and doing both house chores and office work.

As many factories were shut its workers had no money to pay rent, children’s school fees, unexpected medical needs, or marry their children.

When the government announces enticing schemes in the near future I hope it will include those who have lost their livelihood.

(Sister Rani Punnaserril, a member of the Sisters of the Holy Cross Menzingen, is the secretary for migrants for the north region of Conference of Catholic Bishops of India)