Unemployment is more acute in India's cities, where the cost of living is high and there is no backup in the form of a jobs guarantee programme
By Eastern EyeJun 02, 2023
On a hot summer afternoon, 23-year old Nizamudin Abdul Rahim Khan is playing cricket on a muddy, unpaved road in the Rafiq Nagar slum in India’s financial capital, Mumbai.
Here, there is scant evidence of India’s fast-growing economy. Bordering what was once Asia largest garbage dumping ground, Rafiq Nagar and surrounding areas are home to an estimated 800,000 people, most living in tiny rooms across narrow, dark alleys. The young men and women in the area struggle to find jobs or work, and they mostly dawdle the day away, said Naseem Jafar Ali, who works with an NGO in the area.
India’s urban unemployment soared during the pandemic, reaching a high of 20.9 per cent in the April-June 2020 quarter, while wages fell. While the unemployment rate has fallen since, fewer full-time jobs are available.
Economists say more and more job-seekers, especially the young, are looking for low-paid casual work or falling back on unreliable self-employment, even though the broader Indian economy is seen growing at a world-beating 6.5 per cent in the financial year ending in March 2024.
India is overtaking China to become the world’s most populous nation with over 1.4 billion people. Nearly 53 per cent of them are under 30, its much-touted demographic dividend, but without jobs, tens of millions of young people are becoming a drag on the economy. “Unemployment is only the tip of the iceberg. What remains hidden beneath is the serious crisis of underemployment and disguised unemployment,” said Radhicka Kapoor, fellow at economic research agency ICRIER.
Khan for instance, offers himself as casual labour for home repairs or construction, earning just about ₹10,000 (£98) a month to help support his father and his four sisters. “If I get a permanent job, then there will be no problem,” he says.
The risk is a vicious cycle for the economy. Falling employment and earnings undermine India’s chances to fuel the economic growth needed to create jobs for its young and growing population. Economist Jayati Ghosh calls the country’s demographic dividend “a ticking time-bomb.”
“The fact that we have so many people who have been educated, have spent a lot of their own or family’s money but are not being able to find the jobs they need, that’s horrifying,” she said.
“It’s not just the question of potential loss to the economy...it is a lost generation.”
Unemployment is more acute in India’s cities, where the cost of living is high and there is no backup in the form of a jobs guarantee programme which the government offers in rural areas. Still many in the army of rural unemployed flock to the cities to find jobs.
While urban unemployment was at 6.8 per cent in the January-March quarter, the share of urban workers with full-time jobs has declined to 48.9 per cent as of December 2022 from an already low 50.5 per cent just before the start of the pandemic, government data shows. This means that of the estimated urban workforce of about 150 million, only 73 million have full-time jobs.
For people in urban areas with full time jobs, average monthly wages, adjusted for inflation, stood at ₹17,507 (£171) in the April-June 2022 quarter – the latest period for which government data is available. This was a modest 1.2 per cent higher than the October-December 2019 period, before the start of the pandemic.
But for the self-employed, incomes have fallen to ₹14,762 (£144) in the April-June 2022 quarter, according to research by Ghosh and CP Chandrashekhar, both at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. It was at ₹15,247 (£148) in the October-December 2019 quarter.
“The big thing that has happened is the collapse of small businesses, which were the back[1]bone of employment,” said Ghosh. Since the Indian government’s decision to demonetise 86 per cent of the country’s currency in circulation in 2016, there have seen continuous attacks on the viability of small business, with the pandemic being the latest, she said.
Over 10,000 micro, small and medium enterprises shut in 2022- 23 (April-March) alone, the government said in parliament in February. In the previous year, over 6,000 such units had shut. But the government did not specify whether any new enterprises were set up in those periods.
Many families in Khan’s neighbourhood, typical of the urban sprawl in the city of 21 million, have been hit by job losses and lower incomes in recent years. Young workers are particularly vulnerable. Arshad Ali Ansari, a 22-year-old student, said he saw his brother and sister lose their jobs soon after the start of the pandemic. Sitting in a single-room with a kitchen attached, where his family of eight lives, Ansari said they survive on his 60-year old father’s earnings of about ₹20,000 (£195) a month.
His brother, who was a graduate and had worked in a bank, lost his job during the pandemic and had to join their father in painting houses. “My brother had education, he had experience,” Ansari said. His sister, once a social worker, also lost her job and has given up hope of finding one.
India will need to create 70 million new jobs over the next 10 years, wrote Pranjul Bhandari, chief India economist at HSBC, in a note earlier this month. But only 24 million will likely be created, leaving behind “46 million missing jobs.”
“From that lens, a growth rate of 6.5 per cent will solve a third of India’s jobs problem,” he wrote.
Starmer is facing a Labour backbench revolt over plans to reform special needs support in schools without guaranteeing existing legal rights. (Photo: Getty Images)
KEIR STARMER is facing a backlash from Labour MPs over plans to reform special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) support, after ministers stopped short of guaranteeing legal rights for parents.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said the government was committed to reforming the current system, which costs £12 billion a year. However, she did not confirm if legally enforceable rights, such as those provided by education, health and care plans (EHCPs), would remain.
Early education minister Stephen Morgan told Times Radio: “We want to make sure that every child gets the support that they need,” but did not rule out changes to current entitlements.
Senior Labour MPs told The Times the plans risk repeating mistakes from past welfare reforms. “We’re all in favour of reforming the system but that cannot be driven by saving money and taking support away from children,” one MP said.
The government’s proposals, expected in the autumn, focus on early intervention and better support in mainstream schools. Ministers say the aim is not to cut costs but to improve outcomes. They have pledged £750 million for new specialist facilities and over £1 billion for high needs budgets.
Campaigners say EHCPs remain essential for securing support. Celebrities and groups including the National Autistic Society warned in The Guardian: “Without statutory support, underpinned by necessary extra resources for schools, it’s extremely unlikely that ministers will achieve their aim.”
Phillipson told the BBC the current system was “too adversarial” and “too bureaucratic,” adding: “We need to just take a step back and think about how do we build a better system.”
By clicking the 'Subscribe’, you agree to receive our newsletter, marketing communications and industry
partners/sponsors sharing promotional product information via email and print communication from Garavi Gujarat
Publications Ltd and subsidiaries. You have the right to withdraw your consent at any time by clicking the
unsubscribe link in our emails. We will use your email address to personalize our communications and send you
relevant offers. Your data will be stored up to 30 days after unsubscribing.
Contact us at data@amg.biz to see how we manage and store your data.
Londoners faced a wet and stormy start to the week
Heavy rain and thunderstorms drench London at the start of the week
Temperatures set to rise with highs of 31°C expected by Thursday
Heatwave could be declared by Friday if warm conditions persist
Night-time temperatures to remain high, increasing discomfort
UV and pollen levels forecast to be very high across the south
Thunderstorms soak London before summer heat returns
Londoners faced a wet and stormy start to the week as heavy rain and overnight thunderstorms swept through the capital. Monday morning saw widespread downpours, leaving commuters reaching for umbrellas and Wimbledon ticket hopefuls queuing in ponchos.
The unsettled conditions followed a burst of thunderstorms on Sunday afternoon and continued into the early hours of Monday, prompting caution across the city. The Met Office has not issued a formal weather warning for thunderstorms, but conditions remain unstable.
Temperatures expected to climb through the week
According to the Met Office, Monday will gradually clear, with sunny intervals forecast later in the day. Temperatures are expected to peak at around 23°C, before rising steadily through the week.
By Wednesday, temperatures could reach between 25°C and 28°C in parts of the country. However, for a heatwave to be officially declared, these thresholds must be met for three consecutive days.
Senior Met Office meteorologist Marco Petagna explained: “Although the temperature will be reaching the criteria, we probably won’t actually reach an official heatwave until around Friday.”
— (@)
Heatwave likely by Friday, with weekend highs in low 30s
The mercury is forecast to hit 30°C or above by Friday and Saturday, with some areas potentially reaching the low 30s. Conditions are also expected to become more humid towards the weekend, making nights increasingly uncomfortable as temperatures are not likely to fall below 15°C.
Petagna noted that while it will be hot, the UK is expected to avoid the extreme heat experienced in southern Europe, where parts of Spain and Portugal have seen temperatures soar into the mid-40s.
UV and pollen levels also rising
In addition to the heat, very high UV and pollen levels are expected across southern parts of the UK later in the week. The Met Office has advised the public to take precautions during peak hours of sunlight.
The long-term outlook remains uncertain, with some forecasts suggesting the heat may ease early next week, while others predict it could persist into the following weekend.
Keep ReadingShow less
Lisa Nandy, Steve Reed, René Olivieri and Hilary McGrady at a National Trust event marking its 130th anniversary
THE National Trust, which is seeking to broaden its appeal to British Asians, is marking its 130th anniversary with a renewed commitment to restoring nature and widening access under a 10-year strategy.
Its director-general, Hilary McGrady, also aims to inspire more people to get involved in caring for the country’s natural resources.
The National Trust was founded in 1895 by three Victorian philanthropists – Octavia Hill, Sir Robert Hunter and Canon Hardwicke Rawnsley – to “promote the permanent preservation for the benefit of the nation of lands and tenements (including buildings) of beauty or historic interest”. With more than “5.38 million members, 11,000 staff and 61,000 volunteers, it is now Europe’s largest conservation charity, caring for over 250,000 hectares of farmland, 890 miles of coastline and 500 historic properties, gardens and nature reserves, for everyone, for ever”.
It wants more British Asians to apply for jobs with the Trust or offer to become volunteers. Many of its historic properties have Indian connections.
McGrady, who has been with the Trust for 20 years, set out the organisation’s aims: “For 130 years, the National Trust has responded to the crises and challenges of the time. Today, nature is declining before our eyes and climate change is threatening homes and habitats on a colossal scale. Meanwhile, millions of people can’t enjoy the benefits that green space and heritage bring.
“So, we will ramp up our work to restore nature, both on our own land and beyond our boundaries. We’ll work to end inequality of access to green space and cultural heritage. And we will inspire millions more people to take action to protect the things we all need to thrive.
“Our charity’s founders were passionate campaigners who recognised the threats to our natural and cultural heritage, and, against the odds, did something about it. That same boldness is needed today. The Trust is uniquely placed to do something about these challenges and it’s why we are setting ourselves these ambitious but much-needed goals.”
At a recent reception to mark the Trust’s 130th birthday in College Gardens, Westminster, the director general asked guests to close their eyes and imagine their favourite idyllic locations.
“You need to know the National Trust is here to look after it, to support it, to stand up for it, to stand up for the right for everyone to have the kind of access to the beauty and the nature that you’ve been thinking about,” McGrady said.
She was “incredibly proud” of what the Trust had achieved “from the very days where there was just a glint in Octavia’s eyes. But I also want you to think about the legacy – not just what we’ve achieved so far, but the legacy we want to leave for our future, for your children, your children’s children, and far beyond,” she added.
She pointed out: “Our historic fabric in our towns and our cities is under massive threat, because we’ve no money to be able to upkeep them. Local authorities are under real pressure. People living in cities – 40 per cent of them – have no access to green or blue space, and so that connectedness that is so vital for the care of nature is being broken.
“And, of course, climate change is affecting everybody’s life – and anyone who doesn’t think it, please just look at the flooding, look at the heat damage, look at our landscapes. These are new challenges, and the Trust is going to step up and face them again.
” She declared: “We’re going to restore nature. We’re not just going to stop the decline. We’re going to restore it.”
McGrady said: “We’re going to move more and more into cities.” “We’ve just done that at Castlefield,” she added, referring to the transformation of a Victorianera steel viaduct transformed into a green “sky garden” in the heart of Manchester.
She also spoke about a landscape project in Belfast: “We’ve just acquired an amazing bit of divis on the edge of Belfast that will make a massive difference to the north of the city.”
She paid tribute to the people who had built the organisation over 130 years: “I stand on the shoulders of many, many of those giants, and they’re the people who built an institution that is much loved, that is much respected and is really trusted, which in this day and age, is a rare and a precious thing I will fight to protect to the death.
” She concluded: “I hope that Octavia – if she’s looking down on us now – will be pleased to see the spirit of the National Trust remains and that we remain for everyone, forever.”
McGrady was followed by Steve Reed, secretary of state for the environment, food and rural affairs, who waved his National Trust membership card: “We all have a special place we love to visit. For me, it’s Sissinghurst Castle in Kent. I love the beautiful gardens designed by the writer and poet Vita Sackville-West and her husband Harold Nicolson, which remain popular today.”
He expressed the Labour government’s support for the Trust: “I look forward to working with the National Trust to develop this work and open up more of our beautiful countryside for everyone to enjoy.”
He said: “Nature underpins everything: our economy, our communities and our livelihoods. But we have become one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world. Restoring nature is a key pillar of the government’s plan for change.
“I’ve just arrived back this afternoon from the UN Oceans Conference in Nice. I was proud to announce a consultation on banning bottom-trawling in our marine protected areas. We can’t go on wiping out precious marine habitats, just because they’re out of sight beneath the sea.
“And yesterday, my colleague Matthew Pennycook announced that the government will update national planning policy to ensure swift bricks are incorporated into new buildings. They make a massive impact on expanding bird populations. We will make sure that now happens in new developments right across the country.
“We will create nine new national river walks, plant three new national forests and support communities to create new parks and green spaces in their neighbourhoods. We’ve already announced the first new national forest between the Cotswolds and the Mendips which will see 20 million trees planted in the coming years.
“It’s a national scandal that our rivers, lakes and seas are choked by record levels of pollution. We’re cleaning them up with new laws to ban bonuses for water bosses who oversee catastrophic pollution incidents, and bringing in over £100 billion of private funding to fix the broken pipes that are the primary cause of sewage leaks.”
The culture secretary, Lisa Nandy, also spoke in support of the Trust, in contrast to some of her predecessors under the Tories who had criticised a report revealing that nearly a hundred of its historic properties were built with money made in India or through the slave trade.
Nandy said she had visited Trust properties with her parents and now, with her 10-year-old son, had been to “hundreds of National Trust properties all over the country”. “What we’ve seen is an organisation that is truly national in the sense that you are rooted locally, standing with communities not just to protect and preserve, but to promote and celebrate the pride, heritage and contribution of those places and their people to our country.”
The volunteers were warmly thanked by the Trust’s chairman, René Olivieri.
Keep ReadingShow less
The King said the public should draw on the 'extraordinary courage and compassion' shown in response to the attacks. (Photo credit: X/@RoyalFamily)
PRIME MINISTER Keir Starmer and King Charles on Monday paid tribute to the unity shown in the aftermath of the 7 July bombings in London, as the country marked 20 years since the attacks.
On 7 July 2005, four Islamist extremists carried out suicide bombings at Aldgate Station, Edgware Road, King's Cross and Tavistock Square. The attacks killed 52 people and injured hundreds more.
Events are being held across London to commemorate the anniversary. Members of the royal family are expected to join survivors and families of the victims.
The King said the public should draw on the "extraordinary courage and compassion" shown in response to the attacks.
"We remember with profound sadness the 52 innocent people who were killed in senseless acts of evil -- and the enduring grief of their loved ones," he said in a statement published by the Press Association.
"In doing so, we should also remember the countless stories of extraordinary courage and compassion that emerged from the darkness of that day.
"The selfless bravery of our emergency services, transport workers, and fellow citizens who rushed towards danger to help strangers reminds us of the very best of humanity in the face of the very worst."
‘We stood together then, and we stand together now’
Starmer said, "Those who tried to divide us failed."
"We stood together then, and we stand together now -- against hate and for the values that define us of freedom, democracy and the rule of law."
He added, "We honour the courage shown that day -- the bravery of the emergency services, the strength of survivors, and the unity of Londoners in the face of terror."
The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh will attend a National Service of Commemoration at St Paul’s Cathedral. A separate service will also take place at the memorial in Hyde Park for survivors and families of the victims.
Call for unity and vigilance
Charles said, "While the horrors will never be forgotten", the country "may take comfort from the way such events rally communities together".
"It is this spirit of unity that has helped London, and our nation, to heal," he said.
"Let us therefore use this 20th anniversary to reaffirm our commitment to building a society where people of all faiths and backgrounds can live together with mutual respect and understanding."
Home secretary Yvette Cooper, speaking ahead of the anniversary, said Islamist and right-wing extremism remained the most significant threats to the UK.
(With inputs from agencies)
Keep ReadingShow less
Navroop Singh was convicted of five charges including rape and was sentenced on July 4 at Isleworth Crown Court. (Photo credit: Metropolitan Police)
A 24-year-old man has been sentenced to life in prison for rape, attempted rape and firearm offences following a Metropolitan Police investigation in west London.
Navroop Singh, of Mellow Lane East, Hayes, was convicted of five charges including rape and was sentenced on Friday, July 4 at Isleworth Crown Court. He must serve a minimum of 14 years.
Singh was found guilty of attempting to rape a woman in Southall Park, Ealing, on October 13, 2024. He was also convicted of possession of an imitation firearm with intent to commit an indictable offence.
He had earlier pleaded guilty to three further charges: possession of an imitation firearm with intent to commit an indictable offence, rape of a girl under 13, and assault of a girl under 13 by penetration. These charges relate to the rape of a child at Hayes End Park, Hillingdon, on October 23, 2024.
Police launched an investigation following the attempted rape report in Ealing. Officers gathered evidence including CCTV footage, witness accounts and forensic material. The woman had approached two off-duty officers near the park gates, who helped her reach a police station.
Detectives linked the Ealing incident to the rape of a child ten days later. They increased patrols, distributed leaflets in the area, and traced Singh to a location near his home. He was arrested on 27 October.
Acting Chief Superintendent Sean Lynch said: “I would like to commend the strength of the victim-survivors and their families and thank them for their unwavering bravery in reporting these awful incidents to us.
“Today’s conviction is testament to the officers’ thorough investigation, which has identified a violent sexual offender and undoubtedly prevented further harm.
“We are continuing to prioritise tackling violence against women and girls with our increased specialist teams. I hope that the community will find reassurance in our action to put this predator behind bars.”
Specialist officers supported both victims during the investigation and trial.