We have a large impoverished and internally displaced population which is living in deplorable state - economically and habitat wise. Kashmiri Pundits; people from North East; Hindus/Sikhs thrown out from Pakistan and Afghanistan form part of the major displaced people as of today. The
national government and state governments are unwilling or incapable to provide
for such large masses of displaced populace.
Some have become unemployed
because of NGOs or other commissions having got judicial consent resulting in
closure of jobs like circus, monkey dancing, elephant ride; snake charmers etc.; ban on
gutka ban; tribal banned from surviving from and off forests produce and soon large number will be rendered jobless with set top boxes replacing cable. no one seems to have given adequate thought to the consequences of these bans or loss of jobs, on the society.
There are some which are semi skills empowering jobs, e.g., mechanic; hotels;
tailor; cobbler; carpenter; welders, drivers and host of others.Domestic help by young boys and girls in the urban areas was and continues to be a big source of employment in the unorganised sector. And these were done by younger
kids because remuneration was less. However this has been officially banned leading to inadequacy of quality of skills acquisition.
Large number of Biharis; Bangladeshis and Nepalese have occupied the space vacated by
paucity of labour due to our youth from Panjab having moved to the West and
unwillingness amongst the local boys to do the menial jobs Impoverished biharis and foreign illegal
immigrants are blackmailed into doing the jobs which are otherwise banned.
Thus a very peculiar situation
has arisen. Low skill low pay jobs in domestic help or apprenticeship are available
but not legally tenable. The outcome- lots of kids are going hungry and not
attending schools.
There are families, notwithstanding the claims of the government and
right to education , which are not in apposition to send kids to school because they are needed
home to look after the house/sibling when
parents are away. So it is a catch twenty two situation defying a simple
situation. There are very few jobs in the rural areas. So people move to urban
areas for economic prosperity and bright future of the next generation but they
are unskilled. For the unskilled rural person labour jobs are available but not
paying enough to run support the complete family of around five. So the wife
has to work as domestic help, there is enough demand and just about adequate
supply. There are added perks of this job- sometimes accommodation, doles,
security and a decent remuneration. Kids make extra buck on Sunday with car
wash or laundry etc.
With the latest trend
of working couples reliable domestic help is becoming a necessity.
There seems to be a
scope of mega transformation of marginalised populace with the help of the
society by following a win- win option by meeting the essential needs of each
other.
The suggestion is that anyone
who houses a family in their house (servants quarters) be given the responsibility
of funding one child where with all. The child in turns helps the lady of the house
in house hold chores during non-school hours. This would be something like
loose adoption with child becoming a member of the family and providing
emotional support in due course. The child learns good things of life by just
observing and working in the house. Following benefits accrue
Family lives in decent accommodation rather than slums.
Better quality of life and upbringing.
Helps the working couple
Emotional support to elderlies of the clan
Security of the house
Opportunity to learn/develop additional vocational skills
In
due course this family will be able to fund a EWS/LIG type of house
Illegal migration into urban areas of Bangladeshi will be controlled.
It will to some extent dry up source of support to ISI operating from Bangladesh. The labour shortage can be met by issuing work permits.
A small step could mean
transformational change for the nation.
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