What the Cockroach Movement Says About the Indian Economy
Young college graduates are struggling to find jobs.
India's young people, numbering 367 million from ages 15 to 29, are facing significant challenges in the country's education system and labor market. This discontent was sparked by then Chief Justice of India referring to unemployed youth as cockroaches, leading to the formation of the Cockroach Janta Party. In response to the protests, the government eventually resigned the Indian education minister, but the issues persist.
The Indian economy has experienced growth, with notable infrastructure development, but this growth hasn't translated into structural change or job creation for the massive influx of graduates. While top segments of society enjoy affluence, a large portion of the population remains in poverty or informal employment. Half of the job growth occurs in agriculture, primarily employing women. Only 23% of the population is in formal employment, with the rest working in precarious conditions.
India's education system has strong aspects, such as renowned institutions in technology and liberal arts colleges. However, it lags behind China in global university rankings. Concerns about elementary education are widespread, hindering the development of human capital formation. The movement advocating for the interests of India's young people aims to address these challenges and initiate a dialogue for change.
Written by urgent.news from Foreign Policy's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
