Mysuru: “Isn’t Pakoda-frying also a profession?” Prime Minister Narendra Modi had classified this also as a job among the 4,000 other daily business in the unorganised sector. Hence, demanding a separate policy for this sector, ‘Udyogakkaagi Yuvajanaru’ (Youth for Jobs), an organisation working in the interest of youths, staged a novel protest by frying pakodas in front of Gandhiji’s bust opposite the Mysuru Law Courts, here yesterday.
They urged the PM, who is visiting Bengaluru tomorrow (Feb.4), to announce a policy for the benefit of people working in over 4,000 different kinds of jobs in the unorganised sector.
Reacting to a question from a private TV channel, they have countered, “Is not working in the farm sector, selling tea and pakodas a profession?” No one has said that these are not jobs. Besides, Modi has not done anything to this sector, they said expressing their anger.
“In the current Budget, there is no scheme or policy for self-employed. There is no clarity on minimum support price for agriculture products. Is this your commitment?” asked the protesters. What we expect from the political parties is alternative schemes not pakoda stalls. “We need to live a life of dignity and we need a secure life, is all we demand,” they urged.
Litterateur Bannur K. Raju, speaking on the occasion, said that it was not right on the part of the PM to speak lightly about job creations. There is definitely dignity in selling pakodas and tea on the roadside. The Central Government instead of asking youths who have completed higher education to sell pakodas and bajjis should concentrate on providing them jobs.
There is no stress on jobs in this Budget. At least during the Bengaluru visit Modi should clearly announce a policy regarding job security for the youths, he demanded.
This post was published on February 3, 2018 6:39 pm