Though India has a huge demographic dividend, it risks neutralising this, with jobless growth staring us in the face. India needs to create nearly 100 million new jobs over the coming decade. The question is how. PwC has just released a report, Nagarik (citizen), which highlights practical ways of raising employment over the next decade. It looks at how smaller districts can be linked to markets to create more jobs. Essentially, what the report says is that customised strategies need to be adopted to meet the employment needs of each State and district based on their core capabilities and existing strengths as well as their stage of evolution. For example, Uttar Pradesh, which needs the highest number of job additions, at 24.3 million by 2026, should leverage agriculture, MSMEs and its cultural heritage. In the business as usual scenario, UP would create 6 million jobs till 2026. The Nagarik would help generate the additional 18 million jobs.

So what exactly is Nagarik? It is a platform that is market-led, and citizen driven, says PwC. It visualises citizens, the private sector and government playing an active role in job creation through entrepreneurship, execution and enablement. Access to market and technology are the two key pillars of this strategy. Resources would be sourced and consumed at the local level, saving time and costs. Good ideas here, but will it be adopted?

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