Unemployment among Muslims dropping, shows NSSO data

[Vishwarupa]

NEW DELHI: Unemployment among Muslims is going down, marking an encouraging trend to gladden the champions of inclusive growth.

The unemployment rate for the community declined from 2.3% in 2004-05 to 1.9% in 2009-10 in rural areas and from 4.1% to 3.2% in urban areas. However, a vast majority of Muslims in both rural and urban areas are not part of the organized workforce compared to other religious groups.

In contrast, Hindus had a stable unemployment rate of 1.5% in rural areas during the five-year period while it fell from 4.4% to 3.4% in urban India.

According to data released by the National Sample Survey Organization, Muslims are mainly engaged in self-employment and as rural labour.

In cities and towns, Muslims are at the bottom of the ladder in the 'regular wage/salaried' category. Among the major religious groups, only 30.4% of Muslim households are in regular jobs, followed by Sikhs (35.7%), Hindus (41%) and Christians (43%). In contrast, the proportion of households with major source of earning as self-employment was the highest for Muslims (46%) in urban areas.

In villages, Muslims (41%) are the largest group employed as rural labour with another 46.3% in the self-employed category. Majority of households of all religious groups, other than Muslims, belong to the self-employed in agriculture category, the survey found.

In rural areas, the proportion of households depending on self-employment was the highest among Sikhs (48%). The community's major source of earning is self-employment in agriculture (around 36%), followed by Hindus (33%) and Christians (30%).

Around 25% of Muslims are engaged in self-employment in non-agricultural sector, followed by Christians (14.7%), Hindus (14.5%) and Sikhs (12.4%), according to the NSSO data.

The poor state of affairs among Muslims is also reflected in low per capita spending compared to other religious groups. The household monthly per capita consumer expenditure (MPCE), which serves as a proxy for income and is usually taken to reflect the living standard of a family, was lowest among Muslims. Muslim households were spending Rs 980 (Rs 1,272 in urban areas and Rs 833 in rural areas).

The average MPCE (for both urban and rural) was the highest for Sikh households, followed by Christians and Hindus. The average MPCE of a Sikh household was Rs 1,659 (Rs 2,180 in urban areas and Rs 1,498 in rural areas).

Unemployment among Muslims dropping, shows NSSO data - The Times of India

 

[parijataka]

One more important factor that separates Muslims from all other groups is the low female participation in workforce as well as low female literacy. Parsi, Jain, Sikh and Christian females score high in that respect. If 50% of a group are going to have little literacy and no employment then naturally their stats for income and spending are going to reflect that.

Muslims as a community need to start thinking what they can do for their community rather than crying all the while for special rights and favours from the govt.

Muslims have been part of the ruling class rather than the underprivileged as a groups as compared to say SC or ST.

At 180 million plus they are a pressure group/vote bank rather than a under privileged section of society.

Muslims in India have been Presidents, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, top posts in Armed forces, IAS, IPS, sportsmen and women and women, industrialists, nawabs, film stars, artists and royalty.

They even have Universities devoted solely to the welfare of the Muslim community in India. Six more in the pipeline, including Tipu Sultan University near Mysore on the lines of AMU.

Compare that with SC-ST - can count on finger tips I think.

Stop whining already.

 

[Vishwarupa]

One more important factor that separates Muslims from all other groups is the low female participation in workforce as well as low female literacy. Parsi, Jain, Sikh and Christian females score high in that respect. If 50% of a group are going to have little literacy and no employment then naturally their stats for income and spending are going to reflect that.

Muslims as a community need to start thinking what they can do for their community rather than crying all the while for special rights and favours from the govt.

Muslims have been part of the ruling class rather than the underprivileged as a groups as compared to say SC or ST.

At 180 million plus they are a pressure group/vote bank rather than a under privileged section of society.

Muslims in India have been Presidents, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, top posts in Armed forces, IAS, IPS, sportsmen and women and women, industrialists, nawabs, film stars, artists and royalty.

They even have Universities devoted solely to the welfare of the Muslim community in India. Six more in the pipeline, including Tipu Sultan University near Mysore on the lines of AMU.

Compare that with SC-ST - can count on finger tips I think.

Stop whining already.

I also suggest they be moved to General category from current minority status. All special privileges should be reduced to minimum.

 

[Bangalorean]

One more important factor that separates Muslims from all other groups is the low female participation in workforce as well as low female literacy. Parsi, Jain, Sikh and Christian females score high in that respect. If 50% of a group are going to have little literacy and no employment then naturally their stats for income and spending are going to reflect that.

Muslims as a community need to start thinking what they can do for their community rather than crying all the while for special rights and favours from the govt.

Muslims have been part of the ruling class rather than the underprivileged as a groups as compared to say SC or ST.

At 180 million plus they are a pressure group/vote bank rather than a under privileged section of society.

Muslims in India have been Presidents, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, top posts in Armed forces, IAS, IPS, sportsmen and women and women, industrialists, nawabs, film stars, artists and royalty.

They even have Universities devoted solely to the welfare of the Muslim community in India. Six more in the pipeline, including Tipu Sultan University near Mysore on the lines of AMU.

Compare that with SC-ST - can count on finger tips I think.

Stop whining already.

That is a very pertinent point.

Even well-educated Muslims who post on internet forums and are firmly in the Indian middle class, share such views on women in the workforce. A Muslim on another forum recently was saying how Muslims "encourage their women to join professions such as teachers, nurses, etc." because as per the Quran, women are supposed to "play a nurturing role" or something like that.

Even this educated middle-class fellow would balk at Muslim women joining professions like media, IT, call centers, etc. Of course, there are Muslim ladies in these professions too (albeit much less that the proportion of overall Muslim population), but the fact to look at here is the thinking even among educated segments of the Muslim population.