Dalit groups seek law to guarantee jobs to educated youths

NEW DELHI: Dalit organisations have decided to demand for a legislation to guarantee employment for educated unemployed youth in the country, at a time when the economic slowdown and the corona pandemic have dealt a hard blow on the job markets, in the form of Educated Youth Guarantee Act or an Unemployment Allowance, commensurate with their qualifications.
NACDOR (National Confederation of Dalit and Adivasi Organisatons), which has already prepared a draft legislation to be submitted to the Centre, made a public appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday and will be writing to him formally within a couple of days. It wants the government to bring a legislation in the upcoming monsoon session of Parliament to guarantee jobs to educated youth or an allowance in the lines of minimum wages paid to workers under the MNREGA.
From Monday, NACDOR initiated organisations across the country to sensitise people, especially the youth, on the issue and also notify the Centre on it.
According to NACDOR chairman and Dalit activist Ashok Bharti, small meetings across the country are being held to communicate the message about the demand and create mass awareness on it.
After writing to the Prime Minister, the plan is to send out petitions to the PM and other related authorities in the central government, from across the country through local administration, to ensure that they reach PM Modi’s office.
“We will allow time for the government to respond. A positive response from the government would be in its own advantage. In fact, we are ready to help the government frame the legislation with inputs from all ends,” Bharti told TOI, when asked about its expectations and action plan on the move that has been initiated.
“We have no problem with any party or anybody taking up this cause, which is a need of the hour, since we are not a political outfit. We are ready to work with anyone who is willing to help with this legislation, Bharti added.