International Workers’ Day is the big celebration on the world level and it is celebrated to commemorate the 4^th of May of 1886, the Haymarket affair (Haymarket Massacre) in the Chicago. It is the big event of that year when workers were on the general strike for their eight-hour workday and police were doing their job of dispersing the general public from the crowd. Suddenly, a bomb was thrown over the crowd by an unidentified person and then police started firing over the workers and four demonstrators were killed.

Arunachal along with the world celebrates this day with enthusiasm. But question is apart from the paraphernalia at the superficial level, does the day really hold any meaning?

Terming the labour community as the backbone of development is so clichéd, it has lost meaning. On labour day, a true tribute would be for us to introspect and ask ourselves whether, the catch phrase-dignity of labour- has really been internalized.

The educated unemployed population in Arunachal which makes a substantial chunk of the overall population is facing a complex problem. Work for youths here in other words means “government service” and no other work can actually suffice in their pursuit of this coveted goal. Every student aspires of becoming a government servant but question is- Is this practical or realistic? For a small state, it doesn’t take much deliberating to realize that not everyone can be accommodated in this manner.

The IT industry, call centres, retail and hospitality industry in metro cities are powered by a large number of migrants from Northeastern states. Why is it that our youths known for their professionalism elsewhere cringe away at the mere thought of working in private set up back home?

Instead of waiting for a stroke of luck; Why not start a business, turn entrepreneur and generate employment opportunities for others as well.

The problem of unemployment can be solved with concerted efforts from both sides – the state as well as the general public. Requirement is for people to think out-of-the-box and not always follow the beaten path. The answer to the unemployment problem largely lies in our mindset, as to how we perceive “dignity of labour”. In states like Meghalaya, Manipur, and Mizoram, the locals -- educated or not -- show no hesitation to work in any field of work right from selling vegetables to running a fast food joint. Time has come for us as a state to also change our notions and realize the true meaning of dignity of labour. This will be a befitting celebration of labour day.

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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