Campbell Bay, 05 Jan 2020
The Educated Youths of Great Nicobar are under tremendous mental strain these days because of non-availability of adequate and well-paying jobs in the Island. Every year hundreds of youth from Great Nicobar proceed to Port Blair and Mainland for their higher studies and at the same time, several hundred also complete their higher studies every year and return back to their homes.
Most of these educated youths remain jobless unless they take up low paying jobs with private establishments and contractors in the Island. When they take up these low paying jobs they are counted as employed, however, their salaries are so meagre that they are not even able to take care of their own expenses.
The reason for unemployment in Great Nicobar is lack of adequate population which limits the self-employment opportunities that one can pursue. Job creation through entrepreneurship has come to a standstill because of the saturation in the market. When a new enterprise is started in the traditional sectors, instead of creating jobs it divides the revenue of the already existing businesses, which leads to a decrease in the number of jobs.
To make things worse Andaman and Nicobar Islands were equally affected economically with the rest of the country by the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdown. The businesses in Great Nicobar Island also suffered huge losses because of the lockdown which forced them to cut jobs.
The situation in Great Nicobar Island is currently grave as the youth are mostly jobless and are taking up unhealthy habits such as alcoholism to tackle their frustration. The problem of alcoholism among the youth in Great Nicobar is increasing day by day and the availability of cheap country made liquor openly in Campbell Bay and adjoining areas are only adding fuel to the fire. The country-made liquor locally known as ‘Jungli’ is very harmful to health. The popularity of ‘Jungli’ has reduced after the Liquor Outlet of ANIDCO reopened in the Island but still, it is loved by people with meagre incomes.
Andaman and Nicobar Administration needs to intervene and facilitate the creation of more jobs in Great Nicobar Island. Promotion of tourism in Great Nicobar Island and facilitating the transport of fisheries products will automatically boost up the local economy and create more jobs.
The Police in Great Nicobar should also open its eyes to the prevalent practice of the illicit sale of country-made liquor (locally called as ‘Jungli’) and stop the practice as it will have serious implications on the health of the youths.
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