The other day, addressing the Parliament, Mansukh Mandaviya, the Union Minister of Labour & Employment, said that there are not enough Plumbers and Mechanics in the country. "Educated youth should look for a job in this sector as well," he said.
The Minister's assertion has riled up many. Critics say that the government has failed to create employment opportunities in the software, services and manufacturing sectors.
Others, however, argue that the Minister is right. "He is 100% correct. Employment will happen when people have skills. We look down on certain professions. I am willing to bet that my AC mechanic will have far greater lifetime earnings than a tester in Infy. But we look down on that profession. The problem is us. Not the profession," says Venkataramana Reddy, himself an entrepreneur.
Dr Shivam 'da', says, "People pay Rs 50 lakhs to become third-rate engineers after getting 50% in 12th Class. They would earn much more as a plumber if they learned the right skills. Instead, they spend lakhs in a C-grade college, spend more to get an MBA from some unknown college, only to get Rs 30,000 per month in a sales job from which they can be fired any moment."
"In a country with an excess of youth, we need more skill-based polytechnic colleges and students. Not everybody can be an engineer or a doctor. And government jobs are limited," another Twitter user wrote.
