Lanterna Rally

Author: Dr Harsh Mani Singh

Publisher: BFC Publications

Published: 2022-01-14

Total Pages: 87

ISBN-13: 9355092016

The Covid-19 triggered pandemic has overturned the social and economic pools, the two main poles of our human life. People facing quarantine, isolation and different other hygiene protocols are forced to face lockdown as the only option of prevention. While the lockdown has put all the economic activities of the entire world at grinding halt, the formidable employment crisis has started coming up. Out of the different aspects of unemployment arising out of this lockdown, the reverse migration of labourers is alarming. An economy facing the problem of unemployment in the preCovid period has been trying hard to create new opportunities of employment using different strategies oriented towards self employment, rather making our youth as employment provider and not the employment seekers. (1) One of the most coveted and sought for area is Artificial Intelligence which can be used at Larger scale to create self employed youths and group of youths. This streategy definitely needs learning and training. But there is large scale ambitious training programs of low skill, skill and high skill development among the youths of the country. Emergence of Gig economy is the best example of such novel initiatives.In the era of social distancing,on the one hand , the artificial intelligence is bound to be promoted further and on the other hand the problem of reverse migration is creating an unprecedented kind of employment problem before the country. In India the service seekers are rapidly moving towards a gig economy for reasons such as - (i) Cost-cutting (ii) Skilled workforce (iii) No middleman (iv) Flexibility of timing, work space and amount of service. (v) Time saving. etc. India has a great potential for going towards Gig economy due to the tendency of expanding supply of freelancer service providers with lower-skilled labour.In this context the reverse migration of labour force can be a boon in disguise. Small cities, towns and even in villages too the promotion and practice of freelance service providers can be instrumental in creating local level job opportunities for surplus local workforce (migrated labour). (2) Another important area may be the Rural Roads, Rural Houses, Toilets, Rain Water harvesting reservoirs, Solar Energy System Installation, Warehouse building etc. constructions where large number of labourers can be absorbed by curtailing the gestation period of such ongoing and upcoming projects. (3) Import substituting small production units like Toys,Electrical small and basic items like bulbs, switches,plugs and sockets, wires of household uses, home decor small materials etc. can be produced at local levels by absorbing local workforce. Now it is important to see that how India can establish a novel, viable and productive balance between all the above possible alternatives and reverse migration of labourers. The basic objective of this Webinar is to have a fruitful discussion and discourse over the different aspects and instruments of employment creation for migrant labourers through different means and reach a policy oriented useful conclusion.