From ‘Job Creation’ to Livelihoods

Ever since he became Prime Minister in 2014, Narendra Modi has talked about job creation as a sorely needed factor for India’s economic stability and growth. Yet the subject remains the proverbial elephant in the room, made obvious because it has been repeated, by the PM, by opposition and media over the years, with little to show by way of success. On 15 August 2014 the media reported: "Modi hoists the National Flag from the ramparts of Red Fort. Skill development will be towards job creation and empowering the youth…” A year later media reported, “Modi said there would now be an attempt at linking job creation with new investments. Proposed schemes would now impose the obligation of creating fresh jobsf or every clearance given to investments”. In 2017 the reports quoted the PM: “We are nurturing our youngsters to be job creators and not job seekers." That year he also spoke of government's policies that have led to more employment opportunities, but did not elaborate. During the July no-confidence motion in the Lok Sabha, Modi replied to the criticism his government was facing over the unemployment issue by saying that over one crore jobs had been created over the past year. Finally, on 15 August 2018, he hinted at the need for a rethink of what “job creation” means. We agree. There is a basket of livelihoods and knowledge, guided by culture, which fulfils all that government means when it says "jobs". It is found as the self-employed traditional artisan sector in handicrafts, hand-weave...