For decades, the aspirations of many young people in Nagaland have revolved almost entirely around securing government jobs. While public employment remains important, the reality is that the government alone cannot provide jobs to every educated youth in the state.
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Zato Sumi
For decades, the aspirations of many young people in Nagaland have revolved almost entirely around securing government jobs. While public employment remains important, the reality is that the government alone cannot provide jobs to every educated youth in the state. As unemployment continues to rise and opportunities remain limited, Nagaland must urgently rethink its economic direction and begin treating the unorganised sector as a serious source of livelihood, dignity, and economic growth. Today, many sectors such as construction, transportation, repair works, hospitality, agriculture, delivery services, and skilled trades are heavily dependent on outside labour, while thousands of local youths remain unemployed or underemployed. This imbalance raises an important question: why are local youths not entering these sectors in larger numbers?
The answer lies not in a lack of ability or willingness among Naga youths, but in the absence of security, dignity, and long-term support within the labour sector itself. Most unorganised workers in Nagaland face extremely uncertain conditions. They often work without pension benefits, health insurance, accident coverage, disability protection, job stability, or regular wages. In such a situation, many young people naturally hesitate to pursue labour-intensive professions because they see no future security in them. At the same time, society has also contributed to the problem by creating a mindset where manual labour is often viewed as inferior while white-collar jobs are glorified. However, around the world, skilled labourers, technicians, mechanics, electricians, carpenters, and craftsmen form the backbone of strong and productive economies.
States like Kerala and Tamil Nadu have shown that local participation in labour sectors increases significantly when governments provide proper welfare protections through labour welfare boards and social security schemes. Nagaland can adopt similar reforms suited to its own realities. The state government should establish a comprehensive welfare system for unorganised workers through a “Nagaland Unorganised Workers Welfare Board” that registers construction workers, drivers, artisans, plumbers, electricians, delivery workers, street vendors, agricultural labourers, handloom workers, gig workers, and other informal sector workers. Registered workers should receive benefits such as accident insurance, health coverage, pension support, educational scholarships for children, disability assistance, maternity support, and emergency financial aid. Such protections would not only improve the lives of workers but would also restore dignity and confidence in labour-based professions.
Alongside welfare protection, the government should introduce direct incentives to encourage local youth participation in labour-intensive sectors. A “Local Youth Labour Participation Incentive” could provide monthly financial support to registered local youths engaged in sectors such as construction, tourism, sanitation, logistics, skilled trades, agriculture, and repair services. Even modest financial assistance through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) could encourage many unemployed youths to take up productive work while building long-term skills and experience. Instead of depending entirely on scarce government vacancies, young people could begin creating stable livelihoods through organised labour sectors supported by the state.
Nagaland must also improve implementation of existing central social security schemes such as e-Shram, Ayushman Bharat, Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maandhan, and Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana. A large number of eligible workers in the state remain outside these schemes simply because of lack of awareness, weak outreach, and poor implementation mechanisms. Proper enrollment drives, labour registration campaigns, and district-level awareness programmes can help bring thousands of workers under formal protection.
Another important reform would be ensuring greater participation of local youths in government-funded projects and contracts. Contractors executing public works should be encouraged or mandated to employ a reasonable percentage of trained local workers wherever feasible. Companies and contractors that hire local youths could also be given incentives, subsidies, or preference in government tenders. This would help retain employment opportunities within the state and reduce excessive dependence on imported labour. At the same time, skill development programmes must focus on practical employment-oriented training instead of merely distributing certificates. District-level skill centres, mobile training programmes, and paid apprenticeships should be established to train youths in areas such as welding, electrical work, plumbing, carpentry, solar installation, food processing, hospitality, tourism, and digital freelancing.
Most importantly, Nagaland needs a broader social and cultural shift in how labour is perceived. There is dignity in honest work. A skilled labourer who contributes productively to society deserves respect and recognition. No society can progress when an entire generation waits endlessly for limited government posts while essential economic sectors remain dominated by outside labour. Economist Adam Smith argued that nations become stronger when labour is organised productively and efficiently. Nagaland cannot build a self-reliant economy if it continues neglecting local participation in productive sectors.
The future of Nagaland cannot depend solely on government employment. The state must create an environment where labour is protected, rewarded, and respected. Social security schemes, labour welfare reforms, and youth incentives are not acts of charity; they are investments in human capital, economic stability, and long-term growth. If Nagaland truly wants to address unemployment, reduce economic dependency, and empower its younger generation, then strengthening the unorganised sector through proper social security and labour reforms is no longer optional—it is an urgent necessity for the future of the state.
(The writer is President of National People's Youth Front—NPYF—Dimapur District)