Dinesh Kamath's column on 'Inside Navi Mumbai' (9) (CM makes many assurances to Navi Mumbaikars) that was published in Newsband

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CM makes many assurances to Navi Mumbaikars

Maharashtra’s chief minister Prithviraj Chavan was at Khandeshwar where Agri Samaj Mahadhiveshan was in progress. While speaking to the crowd he admitted that both the Central and State governments are unable to provide jobs for all. He appealed to the private sector to come to the rescue of the government here by providing jobs. He promised that the government would extend all the cooperation needed to help them create enough jobs.

CM’s remark gives birth to the question whether it is the public sector or private sector which creates more jobs? The debate over this issue has been taking place since a very long time in India. Another debate that never ends is relating to the issue whether Government jobs are better than private ones or vice versa. People of India tend to look at this issue from both qualitative as well as quantitative angles.

What influences candidates towards government jobs?

Traditionally, government jobs have been considered safe with no or little threat of job loss, especially when job opportunities in the private sector were not. There was a time when governments were the biggest employers. Then, job seekers had believed that bagging a government job made their or their children's lives more secure.

Nevertheless, Government jobs have traditionally offered many perks which private jobs do not. Here are a few job benefits and reasons for choosing a government job over a one in the private sector. 1. Pension: this is one of the attractions. 2. Financial services, such as mortgages at a low rate of interest offered by the respective department where the employee is working.  3. Promotions and pay raises offer immediate social recognition/status to employees at specified intervals. 4. Higher positions often entail unmatched administrative power. 5. Relatively stronger immunity against job loss. 6. Some governments promise employment to relatives of employees. 7. More relaxed, congenial working style.

Are there any negatives to government jobs?

Of course, there are a few downsides to government positions, too. Government jobs offer a low starting salary, in comparison to private employers. Salary hikes are sometimes meager as they are regulated by standardization. Career growth opportunities can be few and far between, as promotions are standardized and often based on seniority. Another aspect of government jobs is that they may be perceived as less challenging. A common complaint about government jobs is that the routine and mundane nature of the job often leads to complacency.

Private sector jobs: Why should you choose them?

The private sector offers the maximum number of employment opportunities. This is true for any developing or developed country. Private sector jobs, even though they do not guarantee job security, offer high career potential growth opportunities. This is by far the biggest reason for their popularity along with the huge demand that they create. Job seekers often opt for private sector employment because of their fast paced and modern recruitment procedures. In the private sector, true talent is recognized and sought out by various selection techniques.

1. Selection procedure provides an even playing field for all applicants. This is unlike the government sector, where selection is often made based on seniority or knowing someone in a particular agency. 2. True talent is unearthed before the selection through interviews and brainstorming. 3. Lucrative starting salaries and high growth potential through what is called "merit based" promotions and salary hikes. 4. Fast paced working style and environments give employees job satisfaction and eventually foster loyalty and dedication.

There are downsides to private sector jobs as well, such as long working hours - depriving employees of a meaningful family life. Mental stress and early aging are said to be byproducts of private sector jobs.

So these are the pros and cons of both government and private jobs. One should appreciate CM’s idea of extending his cooperation to private sector to make still more jobs available and to solve the problem of unemployment. It is only when both government and private sector cooperate with one another that more employments can be generated and this will prove to be a relief for so many youngsters and even adults who are finding themselves without a job in India. The big shots of private sector and also the government should make note of this particular point and the two should join hands to work to drive away this scourge called ‘unemployment’.

Thus CM’s visit to Navi Mumbai has proved to be a fruitful one considering the fact that many unemployed in Navi Mumbai too have developed new hope after the assurances made by CM.

CM came up with other brilliant ideas to create employment. He said that to attract large investments, it is necessary that we should have an airport in Navi Mumbai. That in turn requires substantial amount of land to be acquired, he said. Hence he appealed to the land owners to allow the government to conduct a proper survey of the area. He promised to look into all the demands of the Project Affected Persons.

Now this issue relating to PAPs is a very sensitive one in Navi Mumbai. PAPs are tired of the assurances given by both local and state governments. They are now become desperate. They want to see the government take concrete steps to end their nagging problems. Before the construction of this satellite city started, they were promised adequate compensations if they gave away their lands to the government. They did part with their lands but the promises made to them are still to be kept even after many years have elapsed after constructing of the city. PAPs feel deceived by the government and they wonder whether this another assurance, to do justice to them, this time coming from CM, is a genuine one.

CM’s idea to attract more investment in Raigad district by providing the investors infrastructural facilities and also creating a peaceful atmosphere for the industries to flourish is laudable.

Other laudable stands that CM took were (1) the farmer-land owners should receive adequate compensation for their land. (2) The government will soon come up with a decision to grant additional FSI for the reconstruction of dilapidated CIDCO buildings. (3) For Special Economic Zones, 60% of the land should be used for industrial/commercial purposes; the remaining 40% for residential purposes, schools, parks and play grounds etc. (4) “There will be resumption of granting scholarships to OBC students.

On the whole, CM’s concern for the welfare of Navi Mumbai should be appreciated.