Growing City

As a job market, India has the dubious distinction of employing graduates and post-graduates as peons and clerks. As such, it is a futile argument that if students worked harder, all of them would be able to secure gainful employment. At most, what would happen is that in place of the present incumbents, more capable individuals would step in following increased competition at each level. The `rejects’ would still add up to the same number; well, not really, because if efficiency at each level increased, the number of employees needed would go down unless there was a commensurate increase in output required.

From this, it should not be inferred that I endorse sloth amongst students, rather, I esteem hard work as the prime virtue in every human-being. However, where I beg to differ is in the interpretation of the word `hard work’ and on the point that mere sincerity on the part of students in an antidote to the problem of unemployment playing in our country.

In my opinion, it is not the indolence of youth but that of those who worked hard at one time to gain influence and thereafter, instead of striving to increase opportunities for other, turned indifferent, inept and covetous, blocking the paths of countless others, that is the principals cause of unemployment. Today, if an investment of Rs 1700 crore by one industrial house has created jobs for thousands and yielded proud moments to the nation at large, one can well imagine what the tainted billions siphoned off and stashed away in foreign lands could have done for the long-term well-being of our native millions.

To add to the problem we have a rapidly increasing population to contend with apart from bureaucratic hurdles that stifle entrepreneurial initiative.

I don’t deny that students in general have lost interest in academics, but for this it is not they who are responsible. When particular students shun work, we may charge him with willful negligence, indolence or any other similar sounding noun; but when similar trends are observed over the entire country, be sure, other factors are at work.

They are, but it is not my purpose to list them here. For the moment, suffice is to say that students have their faults (plenty of them), but they do not deserve to be blamed for something they neither seek nor contribute to.

The writer is a B.A III student at S.D College, ChandigarhDhiraj Sehgal

“An optimist thinks this is the best of all worlds. A pessimist fears the same may be the truth”

Doug Larson, United Feature Syndicate.

IS the government only to be blamed for unemployment? Are we, the new generation not equally responsible for it ? Statistics reveal that unemployment is rising at a rapid rate. Was it not the Government that brought multinationals, started various projects and created numerous job opportunities ? But we are blaming them entirely. What have we done on our part to make ourselves capable of getting jobs?

Standing in a group, having useless arguments, gossiping, condemning various acts of people, getting into politics is what students are doing in their study time. This has become the yearly curriculum of most of the students. Books are not even bought before the examination schedule is displayed and basal means and methods to clear exams is resorted to. Students often claim that the curriculum is often too old for meeting the requirements of the industry, so there is no use of studying the stuff they are provided with. Ask them how sincerely have they studied their course material, they are ever ready with lame excuses. The industry will always employ persons who will be sincere to them, which ultimately is displayed in a person’s result.

In the university, my friends often complain about the lack of study atmosphere. But what they do not realise is that it is not the surroundings that matter but the sincerity and zeal towards studying which ultimately leads to success. These students have set their motto. To work hard with sincerity so that they may achieve what they want in life. Their favorite time pass is not wiling away time but doing productive work which will be helpful to them in their future.

Most students, have almost forgotten the meaning of being a student. They shirk work and aim for loads of money without doing a thing in their study hours. How many students attend seminars, workshops, and lectures that the college organises for their benefit. Very few. They are dawdling in the college premises and watching every movie in town. And all these factors lead to unemployment.

The latest trend among students is joining computer courses. Most of them go to these places and engage themselves in irrelevant, unproductive talks. A project if given is completed by borrowing projects of others. What they don’t realise is that laziness does not pay.

For all this we are to be blamed entirely. We are doing wrong to ourselves. Our generation has become a pessimist, thinking that there is nothing left for us. The student is deluding himself and fears to come out of this darkness and face the light authentically. What are we afraid of ? We should do well and put in our best in our work and studies. God, government and our society will help us in getting jobs only if we put in some effort.

The writer is a IIIrd year student at PEC, Chandigarh