Recognise the awful irony that nearly two decades after India began liberalising its economy and reducing the role of government, one of the biggest mass political protests of recent times, by Gujjars in Rajasthan, is over the right to get government jobs. The Gujjar agitation, including the attempted blockade of Delhi, must be understood in this context. First, there are not enough private sector jobs for people in states like Rajasthan. Second, even though the government is allegedly in retreat, it still retains enormous clout and power in all spheres, which still makes it an attractive employment option for some. Not to mention the potential for earning well above your salary if you are willing to join the ranks of the corrupt. There are also, in government jobs, the benefits of job security and higher salaries at lower levels in the hierarchy compared with the private sector. These, and further, attractions of a government job were confirmed by a survey conducted by the National Foundation of India in 2007. Not surprisingly, reservations, which give the promise of a pre-fixed share of government jobs, is seen as the best way to achieve upward mobility in the quickest time.
The point, however, is that Gujjars aren?t the only ones demanding a pre-fixed share of the government-jobs pie. Meenas want to keep Gurjjars out of the scheduled tribe category?the former have already benefited from their tribal status. Plus, Gujjars have been squeezed by Jats for competition in the other backward classes segment. Unfortunately, the pie is not going to increase in size?government is only going to get smaller, not bigger. Therefore, the increase in opportunities must come from the private, non-government sector. It is here that the lack of good vocational education and a wide enough manufacturing base is telling. Historically, semi-skilled manufacturing employment has been the best guarantor against social unrest that comes from anger at lack of opportunities. Thousands of masters degree holders from dodgy universities apply for Grade-IV government jobs?that?s essentially the same social phenomena as Gujjar agitations. Useless graduate degrees and unproductive government jobs retain their attraction. India can?t modernise if a sarkari peon?s job is valued more than, say, a skilled plumber?s.
