A report has come from International Labor Organization that young Indians are more likely to be unemployed if they are educated. 

Economic Times has written, "A recent ILO report highlights a significant unemployment issue in India, particularly among the youth and educated demographic... 

In India, higher educated young people are more likely to be unemployed than those without any schooling, according to ILO... 

Unemployment in India was predominantly a problem among youths, especially youths with a secondary level of education or higher, and it intensified over time..."

Such damning reports do India no good. By inference, we can conclude that India should stop educating its youth as education spreads unemployment. Only a fool can say such things. But when it comes from big organizations with data and percentages, it shakes our confidence in our efforts. 

Had they said that parameters of education are unrealistic, it would have made sense. Had they said that education ought to be more practical and need-based, it would have made sense. The report and reporter ought to prove that they wish India well. Sitting on a high pedestal and pronouncing nonsensical judgements should be avoided at all costs. Our government and countless educators are working day and night to educate and sensitize masses. Such reports dampen our spirits and spread falsehood.

Our government and various other agencies and organizations are trying hard to increase gross enrollment ratio and rightly so. We have to bring maximum number of Indians into the ambit of formal education. At such a juncture when NEP 2020 is making a marked difference in the educational scenario, to suggest the futility of Indian education system as such is almost criminal. The creators of the report seem to have missed the difference between primary literacy and high-end education. They also seem to have missed the difference between education and skill. 

There is enough room for improvement in our education system, no doubt. High end intellectual and scientific pursuits have to be taken up by the few. Education as a form of mental exercise, theory and precepts formation is a rare exercise. On the other hand, to prepare informed, scientific, and sensitive youth is the work of mass education and it must go on with gusto. 

The report also erroneously belittles small jobs like those of delivery boys and courier service providers. Wherever they see scope of engagement of youth, they condemn it. To provide well paid, formal, white-collar job to everyone is not possible.

India will have to form her own notions of meaningful employment and positive engagement. Farming, service providing, care taking, and social work have to be included in the definition of employment and work. The means to sustenance has to come from the very place where the youth is standing. Local and logical approach is needed to solve these issues. 

We certainly do not need sermons from those who do not understand or do not wish to understand the Indian context. Indian scholars must start Indian standards of happiness, employment, gender parity, social cohesion, sense of security and family values. Based on levels of isolation, mental disorders, adolescent insecurities, gun violence, sense of aggression and various other parameters, India must pay back these organizations in their own currency. To a nation which is striving to find her place and potential, these sudden, demeaning reports do no good. 

Recently, University of Zurich rejected global educational rankings. It is a healthy move. When the norms are set outside the country and when the norms do not match local realities, gibberish from the so-called international organizations cannot be accepted. Indian academia cannot accept this one-sided attack which questions it's very being. 

We may ask ILO as to what it suggests. Should we close down an educational system that spreads unemployment? The absurdity of the pronouncements of ILO is too evident to be missed. 

We have to improve ourselves. We are doing that. We should also assert ourselves. We should serve our standards and norms to the global community. That would be a job well done.

Our Agnivir scheme was criticized in this vein only. There are millions of Indians working in traditional works of wood, copper, brass, leaves, fruits and crops. There are social ambassadors promoting and performing local arts and crafts. There is a huge informal sector of tuitions. Many Indians earn via part time activities as well. This is a very complex scenario. It cannot be described by extreme, black and white brushes. Old age care, and household help are again huge areas and they are expected to grow exponentially. India has to work out her own ways in matters of employment and meaningful engagement of the youth.

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