Entrepreneurship is a permanent solution to unemployment

(Sangnomics is a weekly column that tracks and demystifies the economic worldview of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and its ideologically inspired organizations.)

In the run-up to the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, unemployment has become an issue facing most political parties. Some are promising the unemployed the moon, offering millions of jobs that don’t exist and aren’t likely to come in the near future. There have also been unrealistic proposals regarding rights such as unemployment benefits and internships. These are unfulfillable promises that, if forced, would destroy the economy.

Despite such wild promises, unemployment has been a major challenge for both the Indian state and society since independence, and no significant progress was made in this direction until about a decade ago, when the Narendra Modi government came to power. The fact remains that it was not. Giving a big boost to entrepreneurship through mudra financing and startups in India. This was a paradigm shift in our approach to focus on creating job opportunities rather than finding jobs.

This approach is more realistic because it is impossible for any government to create millions of jobs every year. The only solution to the problem of unemployment is for society to create work opportunities. Government should not be seen as a job creator. It should be seen as a facilitator.

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has been saying this for years and made its position clear in a resolution passed in March 2022. It is important to note that this resolution was passed at a time when the economy was recovering from the havoc caused by the coronavirus. -19.

The RSS resolution said that Bharat has rich natural resources, vast human resources and an inherent entrepreneurial spirit that will transform agriculture, manufacturing and service sectors, creating ample labor opportunities and making the overall economy more He says there is a possibility of raising it to a higher level. Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha (ABPS) emphasizes that society at large must play an active role in leveraging such work opportunities to reduce overall employment challenges I am thinking of doing so.

The resolution further added that impetus should be given to the people-centric, labor-intensive and environment-friendly economic model of the People’s Republic of India. The model proposed by the RSS focuses on decentralization and fair distribution of benefits, strengthening village economies, and strengthening micro, small and agro-based industries. The RSS resolution said areas such as rural employability, unorganized sector employment, women’s employment and overall participation in the economy need to be promoted.

Interestingly, the RSS emphasized that efforts to adapt new technologies and soft skills to social contexts are essential.

According to RSS, there are many successful models of job creation based on the above policies in all parts of the country. We also take into account local specialties, human resources and requirements. In many such places, entrepreneurs, businessmen, microfinance institutions, self-help groups and volunteer organizations have started initiatives in areas such as value-added products, the cooperative sector, direct marketing of local products, and skills development. ing. These initiatives encourage venture companies such as: Handicrafts, processed food products, homemade products, family businesses, etc.

Efforts to inculcate a spirit of “swadeshi and self-reliance” in the society will give the right impetus to the above efforts, the RSS resolution said.

The RSS is quite optimistic that India’s manufacturing sector has high employment potential. However, it needs to be strengthened and this will also reduce India’s import dependence.

Most importantly, the RSS resolution states that “an environment that encourages entrepreneurship should be created by educating and counseling people, especially the youth, to move them out of the mindset of just looking for a job. “Entrepreneurship needs to be fostered among other people as well.” Government and other initiatives are needed to enable the effective participation of women, villagers, people in remote and tribal areas, educators, industry and community leaders, social organizations and other institutions towards this objective. It is essential that these organizations work together. ”

RSS feels that we, as a society, need to explore innovative ways to meet the challenges of a rapidly changing global economic and technological scenario. There is a need to keenly explore the employment and entrepreneurship opportunities of the emerging digital economy and export potential. “We should work on pre- and post-employment training, research and innovation, and motivating start-ups and green technology ventures.”

The RSS called on the people to work towards a Bharat-centric job creation model to strengthen the economy and achieve sustainable and holistic development. In order for Bharat to regain its rightful place at the forefront of the global economy, we reiterate our appeal to all sections of the society to establish a healthy work culture based on our eternal values ​​and provide various types of work opportunities. We have facilitated an entire effort to promote .

The former Sanghnomics column was please read here.

(Arun Anand has written two books on RSS. His X handle is @ArunAnandLive.)

Views are personal and do not represent the position of this publication.