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Mint
3 days ago
- Business
- Mint
Lost in complexity: What is India's real unemployment rate?
News reports often claim that India is experiencing jobless growth, validated by images and videos of thousands of youth queuing for a handful of jobs. These reports seen on TV screens or shared on social media seem drastically different when one looks at India's official headline unemployment rate—3.2% in 2023-24 and 5.6% in June 2025—leading to some level of disbelief in the statistics. This is something that played out last month when a Reuters report, based on a poll of 50 independent economists, claimed that India's official statistics was 'inaccurate". The government was quick to issue a rebuttal, reiterating the robustness of the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), which currently captures the labour market dynamics in the country. While there are enough instances—burying the first PLFS report until the 2019 elections were concluded and junking of the Consumer Expenditure Survey—that may lead independent observers to question the statistical system in the country, the latest claims don't hold water, labour market and statistical experts Mint spoke to said. At the heart of the debate lie two intertwined questions: Is India's official unemployment data inaccurate, and does the country have a significant joblessness problem? The answer to the first is a definitive no, and the answer to the second is a definitive yes. The devil is in the details From the statistical standpoint, PLFS checks all the boxes as per the international standards in capturing the labour market as best as possible. Moreover, there has been an earnest effort to make unemployment data available with lesser time lag. The latest move to release monthly data from April this year takes a step further in capturing the job market dynamics frequently. When it comes to joblessness problem, the real story lies beyond the headline figures. As against the all-India average annual figure of 3.2% in 2023-24, which may appear low, the unemployment rate for graduates is as high as 13% and for the youth (aged 15-29 years): 10.2%. Such details are not available for the latest addition: monthly reports. But they do reveal high unemployment rates in urban areas, especially among women. 'One number cannot describe a country of 1.4 billion," says P.C. Mohanan, former acting chairman of the National Statistical Commission. 'You have to break it down to understand what is really going on". Amit Basole, a professor at Azim Premji University, concurs. 'If you look at educated youth in urban areas, that's where joblessness is a real crisis," said Basole. While the experts said the unemployment report captures the high level of unemployment among where it exists—among educated, young, and urban population—there is a chance of a high level of underemployment that the survey, or for that matter any other survey, isn't designed to capture holistically. Unemployment is quite simply defined as people who are not working and are also looking for a job. This is then captured using two reference periods: preceding 365 days under the usual status and preceding seven days under the current weekly status. This is where underemployment slips through the cracks. 'If you ask a casual labour whether he or she has been working anytime during the last 365 days, the answer is always yes. But this does not mean these people are working to their full capacity," said Pronab Sen, former chief statistician of India. To understand this dynamic, Sen said, unemployment rate under the current weekly status offers a better picture. Policy blindspot For different people—and by different measures—unemployment rate varies in the country. While the unemployment numbers have come down in the past few years by most measures, it can majorly be attributed to the rise in self-employment after the covid-19 pandemic and does not translate into a real improvement. 'If the kind of employment that has risen is not the desirable kind, self-employment, unpaid family work, then that doesn't reflect a very healthy economy," Basole said. When it comes to creation of good-quality jobs for educated youth, the numbers speak for themselves. While there is little doubt over the robustness of the PLFS reports that provides abundant data to understand the complex labour market in India, this does not mean there is no room for improvement. Mohanan said the sample size of the survey needs a discussion, and it should be increased, keeping in mind the rise in India's population to get more robust estimates, especially for small groups. Currently, PLFS surveys about a 100,000 household, which is somewhat the same as the last employment and unemployment survey, but smaller than the sample sizes used in the 1960s and 1970s. 'One lakh looks alright for national estimates, but if you are looking at smaller segments of population like youth or the educated, it becomes slightly inadequate," Mohanan added.
Time of India
23-06-2025
- General
- Time of India
A Threadbare Existence: Balaramapuram Handloom weavers face doom
T'puram: Mohanan still works hard at the oldest handloom weaving machine (kuzhithari) on Saliyar Street in Balaramapuram to earn a living, despite a meagre daily wage of Rs 250. Though his daughter is a PhD holder and history professor, Mohanan refuses to leave the profession that raised his family and helped his daughter reach greater heights. "I hardly get Rs 250 a day. But I get Rs 1,600 monthly as pension from the state govt. What gives me more satisfaction is the Rs 5,000 my daughter gives me to pay off our loan dues," the 72-year-old says with quiet pride. Saliyar Street, known for its rich handloom legacy, has been home to traditional weaving since 1798. The street's origin traces back to the Travancore royal era, when weavers from Saliyar community at Valliyoor in present Tirunelveli district were brought to Balaramapuram by the then King Balarama Varma to supply fine handloom garments to the palace. Back then, five families were asked to settle at the place. What started as a royal initiative grew into a thriving cottage industry, supporting nearly 500 families. The street still echoes with the rhythmic beat of looms, despite facing existential challenges. The proud heritage of Balaramapuram handloom is now caught in the tangled threads of economic hardship, fading patronage and a market overrun by cheap machine-made alternatives. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo Despite the toil, weavers like Mohanan find joy in their work. "I can't sit idle at home. I have been doing this for 50 years and I still enjoy it," he says. His wife, Thankam, 67, also shares the same commitment, working on the traditional "shuttle adi thari" (shuttle loom). It is the oldest type of weaving loom which uses a shuttle containing a bobbin of filling yarn that appears through a hole situated in the side. The shuttle is batted across the loom and during this process, it leaves a trail of the filling at the rate of about 110 to 225 picks per minute (ppm). "We still follow the traditional method, no electricity, no machines, just our hands and our heritage," says Mohanan, a fourth-generation weaver. He is seated on a creaky wooden loom in the front room of his tiled-roof house, the only space he can afford to dedicate to his work. On a modest verandah along this historic lane, 83-year-old Valliamma spins on her spinning wheel with infectious energy. "I have been weaving for 70 years. I have seen this street grow and shrink. It fed my family and taught my children," she says. Her children, settled in other places, still visit to reconnect with their roots. "They tell me their success is stitched with the threads I spun," she smiles. But Valliamma also voices concern about the younger generation. "They don't want this life. They want the city, the office jobs. I don't blame them, but who will keep this alive?" That same question bothers Nayinar, 70, another veteran weaver and a degree holder among the older generation. He used to study by lamplight after hours of work at the loom. "My son and daughter are both engineers now," he says, visibly proud. "I wanted them to escape the hardships we had. This loom paid their fees, bought their books and sent them to hostels." Despite his education, Nayinar chose to stay with the loom. "Someone had to earn. Education doesn't mean leaving tradition, it means understanding its value," he says. Like others, he now worries about the street's future. "When I am gone, will someone take my place here?" he asks. Balaramapuram was once a jewel in Kerala's cultural crown. Its handloom products were patronised by royalty and later by politicians, celebrities and foreign tourists. But today, handloom faces an existential crisis. Power looms from Tamil Nadu and synthetic fabrics from Gujarat and China dominate the market. A few houses away, Padma, a 59-year-old lean widow, is all focused on her loom with practised ease. "I started weaving when I was 14. This work funded my life, my children's schooling and even my daughter's wedding," she says. However, she was also apprehensive about the earnings she got. "Even after a day's toil on the loom, I get Rs 200 to 250. But I can manage with this income along with my widow pension," Padma says. Promises, but no change The govt announces schemes year after year, but the ground reality remains grim. "There was a time when we had bulk orders from Kerala State Handloom Development Corporation and co-operative societies," says Paramasivam, a weaver for over 40 years. "Now we get maybe one order in two months. We are living hand to mouth," he says. Many weavers like Paramasivam complain that the cooperative societies, once their lifeline, are defunct or riddled with corruption. Covid dealt a devastating blow to an already fragile sector. Orders stopped, exhibitions were cancelled and stocks piled up unsold. "We had invested in raw materials in early 2020," recalls Muthulakshmi, a weaver. "Then came the lockdown. We couldn't sell anything for months. Even now, we haven't recovered," she adds. With no social security net, most weavers had to pawn whatever valuables they had or take loans from local moneylenders at high interest rates. The new generation, having seen their parents struggle, is abandoning the craft. "I left weaving three years ago," says Mahesh Kumar P, 31, who now works as a delivery executive in Thiruvananthapuram. "I didn't want to live my whole life waiting for payments that never come," he says. Many youths also work in hotels and restaurants nearby for a good pay. Out of nearly 2,000 looms once active in Balaramapuram, only less than 400 are operational today. And even among those, many remain idle. When contacted, Balaramapuram panchayat president V Mohanan acknowledged the dire situation. "We are aware of the struggles of handloom workers in Saliyar Street. We have submitted a revival package proposal to the state govt, including modern training, working capital support and better marketing. The hike in daily wages is also under active consideration. The district and block panchayats are also doing various kinds of welfare initiatives for the upliftment of struggling weavers. Earlier, we had implemented several projects, but they were sabotaged by a section of textile owners. However, we won't allow them to repeat that anymore," Mohanan says. The state govt supports Balaramapuram handloom weavers only through its Free Handloom School Uniform Scheme, providing handloom cloth for uniforms in govt and aided schools. This initiative aims to boost the handloom industry and ensure quality uniforms for students. The scheme, a joint effort by the Department of Public Education and Handloom Department, benefits over 8,000 weavers and allied workers. However, this is an annual work and the labourers get only a one-time payment once the uniforms are handed over to the govt schools. Despite all these struggles, the weavers of Saliyar Street have not entirely given up. Some still believe the legacy can be maintained. The exceptional craftsmanship and superior comfort offered by Balaramapuram Handloom make them highly sought-after. The distinctive weaving equipment used by these artisans enable them to instantly recognise counterfeit versions of their creations. The substantial workforce engaged in weaving, coupled with the product's distinguished reputation, demonstrates that Balaramapuram Handloom plays a vital role in enhancing the social and economic well-being of the weaving community. BALARAMAPURAM HANDLOOM AN OVERVIEW Royal patronage | Erstwhile Travancore king Maharaja Balarama Varma invited skilled Saliyar weavers from Tamil Nadu around 1798 to weave fine cotton for the royal family ---------- Kasavu craft | Weaving, which began with fine mundu, expanded 100 years ago with natural cream-coloured cotton saris, adorned with intricate kasavu or zari made from silver threads coated with gold, getting popular ---------- Stamp of approval | Balaramapuram handloom received GI status in 2009, affirming its unique craftsmanship ---------- Over 2,000 weavers worked actively at Saliyar Street and surrounding areas 20 years ago ---------- Less than 100 engage in traditional home-based weaving there now ---------- 5,100 looms were operational in 1990 but more than 80% of weavers have quit since then, with many now running textile shops or engaged in other work ---------- Challenges faced 1. Competition from power looms 2. Rising cost of raw materials 3. Lack of sufficient market access for products 4. Inadequate govt support ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ STATEWIDE HANDLOOM CLUSTERS Production (co-op sector) No. of looms: 14,064 Cloth production: 47.02 million metres Value of production: ₹96.34cr ------- Govt assistance State govt loans: ₹109.34L NCDC/Nabard/Hudco support: ₹6.39L -------------- Co-op societies Factory-type societies: 108 Profit-making: 35 Loss-making: 73 --------------------- Key handloom centres Kannur | Chirakkal, Azhikode, Thalassery Thiruvananthapuram | Balaramapuram, Chirayinkeezhu Palakkad | Chittur, Kalladikode Ernakulam | North Paravur, Aluva (Chendamangalam) Kozhikode | Beypore, Koyilandy Kasaragod | Kasaragod town, Nileshwar
The Hindu
18-05-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Two-day conference on ‘Public policy in India and the Global South' held in Thiruvananthapuram
International trade continues to be skewed heavily in favour of the wealthy Global North countries, despite the fact that the Global South, which includes India, supplies 90% of the labour force, Kerala Statistical Commission chairman P.C. Mohanan has said. Mr. Mohanan was speaking at a two-day national conference on 'Public policy in India and the Global South' organised here by the Public Policy Research Institute (PPRI). Despite accounting for the major chunk of the world's labour force, developing nations receive only 21% of the wealth generated. Wages in the Global South countries are not even 10% of that in the wealthier nations, Mr. Mohanan said. US President Donald Trump's economic policies will adversely impact the World Trade Organisation, State Finance Commission chairman K.N. Harilal said. It is the wealthier nations that impose higher import duties on agricultural products, Sachin Kumar Sharma of the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, said. While an Indian farmer receives $429-worth of subsidies a year, a farmer in the US gets $90,375, he said. PPRI director Mohanakumar S. inaugurated the two-day event. Researchers from leading institutes including the Indian Institutes of Technology and the Indian Institutes of Management and universities presented papers at the conference.
CBC
25-03-2025
- CBC
RCMP hosts symposium in effort to recruit more diverse officers
Prince Edward Island's RCMP contingent is aiming to diversify its membership, and a symposium this week was designed to help accomplish that. The event, held on Monday, brought together RCMP officers, graduates and recruitment officers to discuss programs aimed at attracting more diverse members to the force. They include the Diverse and Inclusive Pre-Cadet Experience (DICE) and the Indigenous Pre-Cadet Training Program, in addition to the RCMP's regular member program. One of the attendees, SreeKanth Mohanan, originally from India and now living on P.E.I., went to the symposium to learn more about these opportunities. Mohanan, who is a social worker specializing in mental health and addictions at the Hillsborough Hospital, hopes to become an RCMP officer one day. He said diversity in policing is crucial, not only to combat racism but also to better serve P.E.I.'s growing newcomer community. More newcomers to the province could mean language barriers or tension when they encounter officers, and in those cases, he said a diverse police force can make a big difference. Mohanan thinks programs like DICE can encourage more newcomers to consider a career in law enforcement. "I think if many people are coming from different parts of the community, at least they can set an example to other people to join," he told CBC News. 'Policing is built on relationships' RCMP Const. Tim Keizer said events like the symposium are crucial as Canada's communities continue to grow more diverse. "We're especially seeing it here in Prince Edward Island," said Keizer, who joined the federal force recently after a long career with the Charlottetown Police. "We're just trying to address these concerns and how we can have members that are representative of the communities that they're policing." He added: "Policing is built on relationships, and I think that it's important that people feel comfortable in approaching police officers, that it's not met in a negative moment, and that they feel comfortable making reports or even just in day-to-day interactions." Opening doors for newcomers Another attendee, Praneet Kaur, said the event introduced her to opportunities she hadn't previously known about. I was looking for something to get more information — like in a face-to-face, where I can ask them questions, they can provide me the real answers. — Praneet Kaur Kaur has always wanted to become a police officer, even before moving to Canada from India, and had been searching for information on how newcomers can join the force. "For so long, I was looking for something to get more information — like in a face-to-face, where I can ask them questions, they can provide me the real answers. So that was [the] reason that I came here."
