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A multifaceted challenge

With the second phase of the provision of employment to unemployed graduates getting underway, it could be said that the Government's project to end graduate unemployment has got into top gear.

Finance Ministry sources were quoted saying that 17,000 graduates will be provided employment by the Government by August 31st. Earlier, 13,000 graduates were provided employment out of a list 30,000 unemployed graduates.

While these moves by the Government to resolve a simmering worry need to be greatly appreciated by all, we hope the issue of graduate unemployment and underemployment would be continuously addressed by the Government and treated as a national priority.

The problem needs to be dealt with within a definitive policy framework. This policy framework - we hope - wouldn't change as and when political parties at the apex of governance change. In other words, a clearly-defined national policy needs to be implemented in relation to the graduate unemployment problem.

We, therefore, congratulate the Government on meeting an election pledge to the people. What seemed a Gordian Knot is finally being cut by the Government.

However, as pointed out by us a few days back, these jobs for graduates should be provided on objective criteria, such as capability and merit. A scheme of employment which detracts from this principle would do more harm than good, given the explosive passions a feeling of unfairness among the young, usually gives rise to.

The Government would therefore do right by indicating to the public the bases on which these jobs are provided to our unemployed graduates. It is bound to dispel any doubts or misperceptions which are likely to be entertained by some sections of the public on this issue.

However, it is also important that we tackle the problem of graduate unemployment at its roots. It needs hardly be said that there is a serious mismatch between the educational qualifications of the average graduate and the nature of the employment opportunities on offer or of those which could be created for them.

Accordingly, our Education Ministry needs to work closely with the other Ministries and agencies of the State whose work has a bearing on the resolution of graduate unemployment. Our educational curricular - at whatever level - need to be responsive to our national needs.

It is only under such conditions that our graduates could be absorbed into the productive system. So, educational reform and policy formulation and implementation on graduate unemployment need to evolve in tandem.

These observations do not amount to a rejection of what is called a liberal education. We are all for broad-basing education but national needs should be factored in when educational curricular are drawn up.

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Fast road to success

The Government has decided to allocate Rs. 2.5 billion for the maintenance of highways in 2005, which is almost thrice the usual allocation. This is good news for all road users frustrated with the state of most of our roads.

Only a few of our highways and A-roads are in a good condition. The rest are in various states of disrepair and a few are hardly motorable.

The simple truth is that our roads are unable to cope with the large number of vehicles in circulation. Nearly 700 vehicles are registered daily. Frequent vehicle movements damage the roads. Regular maintenance is the only answer.

In this context, the Road Development Authority's special program for the immediate renovation of the country's road network at an estimated cost of Rs 500-800 million is laudable. Under the four month program expected to be concluded by the end of this year, all A and B highways will be brought up to a motorable condition.

This step is commendable as many accidents have been caused on deteriorated roads. Most roads also lack signposting, which the authorities should look into.

As the Ministry of Highways has pointed out, keeping the highways in good condition would create a large number of employment opportunities and also revive small and medium scale industries related to road development.

A further saving will be made as no tenders have been called for these projects. It is well known that the tender system leaves room for corruption and the waste of public funds. The Ministry will use its own labour, thus negating any such possibility. Officials have been provided with all physical resources and instructions to achieve the program's objective.

The Ministry must also expedite the construction of expressways, which will be essential to cope with the increasing vehicular traffic and to expedite economic growth. One expressway is already under construction and the rest too must be fast-tracked.

The expressways will cut travelling times drastically, boosting both passenger and goods transport. Flyovers must be built to ease congestion at several places in the City and the outstations.

Along with power and telecommunications, roads are part of the vital infrastructural set up. Roads are expensive to construct and maintain, but the long-term economic benefits far outweigh the initial expenditure.

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