THE Democratic Youth Federation of India will stage a protest demonstration outside the Delhi chief minister’s residence on September 12 on various issues related to employment and healthcare. At a press conference on September 7, the DYFI Delhi unit leadership laid out details of the proposed agitation. The press conference was addressed by DYFI Delhi unit president Sanjay Singh, secretary Aman Saini and treasurer Anusha Paul. They demanded immediate filling of vacant posts in Delhi government departments, legislation of the Bhagat Singh Urban Employment Guarantee Act (BSUEGA), monthly unemployment allowance of Rs 5,000, regularisation of jobs of the youth engaged in civil defense, waiving examination fees for students of classes 10 and 12, and expansion of the public health sector.

The DYFI has underlined that the youth have been cheated by the central government led by Narendra Modi and the Delhi government led by Arvind Kejriwal. Modi is a prime minister who is selling his own country to his corporate friends like Adani and Ambani in the name of monetisation of assets. The ban on recruitment in lakhs of vacant posts by the central and state governments, contractualisation of employment, privatisation of government departments and rising inflation have worsened the condition of the youth. Demonetisation and GST introduced by the central government had increased the disparities during the pandemic in Delhi. Newly introduced four labour codes and three farm bills have snatched away the employment opportunities of the youth in the country.

Due to the anti-people policies of this government, the unemployment crisis is the worst since independence. According to central government data, nine lakh posts were vacant in 2018-19. Today this country needs an employment generation of 60 lakhs. DYFI called for filling the vacant posts and bringing in the Bhagat Singh Urban Employment Guarantee Act (BSUEG) at central and state levels.

The Aam Aadmi Party government in Delhi has forgotten its promise to the people of generating two lakh employment every year. In reality, every third youth is unemployed in Delhi. Thousands of sanitation workers, doctors, nurses, paramedical staff and other government employees are being recruited on contract basis. Various government data and responses to our RTI queries also indicate that 50 per cent (about 1 lakh) of sanctioned posts are vacant in various government departments in Delhi.

There are 2,378 posts in DASS Grade II, of which 1,029 are filled and 1,349 are vacant. In Grade III, there are 4,240 posts, of which 1,833 are filled and 2,407 are vacant. In the education department, 1,050 of 1,660 Group A posts are vacant and 23 of 25 Group B posts are vacant. There is a shortage of more than 50 per cent of teachers in every subject, according to the RTI report filed by the DYFI. There is a need for permanent and quick recruitment of lakhs of doctors, nurses, and paramedical staff. There is a need to build new government hospitals and intensify the universal mass vaccination campaign to stop the coronavirus pandemic.

School dropouts have reached a crisis stage. Only 50-60 per cent attendance has been reported as classes resumed for 10th and 12th, as parents, having lost jobs or suffered losses during the pandemic, are unable to afford costs. Under these circumstances, the Delhi government has taken the most insensitive step of doubling the CBSE board exam fees for students. DYFI has demanded the state government to waive fees from KG to PG.

During the coronavirus pandemic, the youth of Delhi have stood by the government and joined the civil defense to serve the people, but they have now become the most neglected section. The salary of thousands of youth recruited in civil defense is irregular. Neither are they being given permanent employee status nor permanent salary. Considering the nature of the work being done by the civil defense, the Delhi government should make permanent recruitments. Today the educated youth have no means of livelihood. The tendency towards suicide and crime is increasing among the economically and socially deprived youth. “If the Delhi government is unable to generate employment for its youth then we demand the government provide unemployment allowance of Rs 5,000 per month,” DYFI said.
DYFI said hundreds of youth will participate in the protest against the Delhi government on September 12. Later, memorandum will be given to the chief minister and the lieutenant governor of Delhi on these demands.