Shrey Awasthi
In recent months, Himachal Pradesh has witnessed an unprecedented wave of protests by unemployed youth.
From Kangra to Mandi and Chamba to Sirmaur, the streets have become the voice of a generation that feels cheated, unheard and sidelined by a government that once promised change but is now silent in the face of their struggle.
Ironically, this comes at a time when the Congress has positioned itself as the national champion of the unemployed. Its leaders frequently take to social media and Parliament to slam the central government over the unemployment crisis. However, when it comes to Himachal Pradesh, a state where Congress is in power, the party’s voice has mysteriously gone mute. The glaring silence of the ruling Congress government in Himachal raises a serious question about the party’s political ethics and consistency.
Growing pressure group
The unemployed youth of Himachal Pradesh are no longer scattered voices, but organised, determined and steadily emerging as a formidable pressure group that is now dictating the local political narrative.
From demanding the rollback of exploitative job trainee policies to questioning arbitrary changes in recruitment rules and delays in examination results, the youth are making it clear that they won’t be used merely as vote banks anymore.
What is particularly striking is the sheer number and frequency of these protests — with each passing week, a new district rises in defiance. Yet, the Congress government in the state continues to turn a blind eye, offering lip service at best and silence at worst.
When the Congress is in opposition, it talks passionately about the rights of unemployed youth. In Parliament, its leaders raise slogans, conduct marches and issue statements slamming the ruling BJP for failing the youth of the country. But what about Himachal Pradesh? Here, when confronted with real, legitimate grievances of the youth — whether related to stalled recruitment drives, unclear policy changes or lack of job creation — the state government avoids engagement.
Ministers don’t take note of protests. Policy reviews are not initiated. No dialogues are offered. In many cases, peaceful protesters are met with police force instead of empathetic ears.
This duplicity is not just disappointing but dangerous. It signals a deeper malaise within the Congress, where populist rhetoric takes precedence over genuine governance and accountability.
Real cost of inaction
The consequences of this double-standard are far-reaching. Disillusionment among the youth is rising. A growing number of educated, talented individuals are either leaving the state or slipping into a cycle of hopelessness and frustration. Himachal, which once prided itself on its high literacy rates and government employment opportunities, is fast losing the trust of its own future generation.
The longer the Congress government in Himachal Pradesh chooses silence over dialogue and complacency over reform, the more it alienates the very people who brought it to power.
What needs to change
• Immediate dialogue: The state government must open formal channels of communication with youth protest groups and student organisations to understand their concerns.
• Policy review: Policies like the job trainee scheme should be reviewed and revised with transparency and youth input.
• Timely recruitment: Backlogs in government vacancies must be cleared and exam schedules must be streamlined.
The youth of Himachal Pradesh are watching. More importantly, they are organising. The days of passive discontent are over. This new wave of political consciousness among the unemployed is not just a protest but it is a movement. And unless the Congress government in Himachal wakes up and engages sincerely, it risks losing both its moral authority and political ground.
In a democracy, silence is not neutral but it is a side. And right now, the Congress in Himachal has clearly chosen not to stand with the youth.
(The writer is the state convener of the HP Unemployed Youth Federation; views are personal)
