Employability is a Funny Concept! It often cuts legs to the size of Shoes!!
NV Paulose, Chairman, Global TV +91 98441 82044
We live in a world where commercial establishments and charitable organizations sandwich common people with diagonally opposing theories. Each one of them is engaged in competition with one another for attention, resources, and control over people’s lives. Employability, often hailed as the cornerstone of individual success, has taken on complex and paradoxical dimensions in this environment.
But do we ever stop to ask about the true purposes of these institutions and their relentless pursuit for growth and success? Each one of them keep rejecting people who approaches them for paid employment or shared engagement. All are always promoting new employability concepts to reject the people whom they supposed to welcome wholeheartedly. No human is a liability for an establishment.
Establishments can create immense space without much physical space to place people in rewarding engagements. Time Space multiple combination is a huge learning stream by itself. Today, the vastest space in the world is identified with the little space in a true bubbling heart. The time and space that we waste for want of ideas, activities and initiatives are very huge in the world today.
We are responsible for the increasing gap between the haves and the have-nots in the world. Even the metro rail keep us alert by saying “Mind the Gap” between the train and the platform. In fact, the haves are dynamic as the trains and others are static like the platforms and the rail tracks. The train runs over the tracks and the tracks sustain the pain of the travel of the so called rich establishments.
Many times we fail to take care of the tracks. It goes until a mishap taking place in the collapse of the so called rich man’s destiny. Those who are genuinely wiser goes unattached and keep their position never to undermine their passion. They will make themselves a thread in connecting greater minds. The garland of ideas and action plans thus formed will help them to reach out to the larger world.
Organisational systems today works on finite goals. Targets are set. We are lost in the routines as we make attempts to feel that we make things happen, when it has to happen on its own infinite forms. In the race to secure our financial futures, we often forget that our time, authority, and possessions are fleeting. What truly endures is the positive impact we have on the lives of others. This is where the irony lies in the concept of employability. We frequently ignores humanity and compassion and look for what is there in it for me and my establishment.
Be aware of The Dark Side of Success as you grow in the ladder of success!
Creating establishments for the larger good of society is admirable. Yet, as these organizations grow and achieve success, authoritarianism inevitably seeps in. It is not visible at many times. People are kept away for want of time and for more focus of the core areas. What starts as a noble endeavour to improve the world often becomes infected by greed and a narrow focus on profit.
Instead of helping those who need it most, many organizations become obsessed on expanding their influence, accumulating wealth, and increasing power. There is nothing seen as a social responsibility thereafter. Even the CSR funds are used to influence people who favour the establishment for further wealth creation. The irony is in becoming blind in the process so that the visibility is lost entirely.
The corporate world is often identified and blindfolded by a profit-driven mentality. They focus on profits and ignore broader societal concerns.
The corporate world places profit on top at the cost to society or the environment. Employability demands people to align with the systems of profit maximization, often at the expense of ethical principles. There are entire sectors of society that thrive on the exploitation of vulnerable people, from drug trafficking to human trafficking, and environmental destruction. Areas of this corruption include:
Drug trafficking: A deadly global industry that exploits human vulnerability.
Gambling (e.g., Rummy Circle): Luring people under the guise of entertainment.
Exploitative lending: High-interest loans trap individuals in cycles of poverty.
Environmental degradation: Profits are prioritized over the health of the planet, resulting in the destruction of ecosystems and communities.
Human trafficking: The exploitation of vulnerable populations for profit is one of the darkest aspects of the modern economy.
Arms trade: Selling weapons fuelling conflicts and destabilizing societies.
Compromise in the pretext of Convenience is the mistake that we all make in the process. In a world that celebrates success at all costs, employability frequently demands moral compromise. To thrive in certain industries, individuals are pressured to cheat, lie, and manipulate. These traits, once universally condemned, are now often seen as necessary for professional advancement. The compromise of one’s values is excused in the name of survival and expediency, leading to a dangerous erosion of integrity. What do we gain with the money that we earned by ruining the values that we are taught by generations and their sacrifices?
Employability is all about preparing people with skills to contribute positively to society. It is about ensuring they can navigate the system on a long-term welfare plan that will help them also to achieve professional and personal success. Every great establishments are started with small initiatives. Many banks, particularly in India, have utilized small savings schemes like Pigmy collections to encourage savings and build their customer base. How great they have grown?
We should go with the Ancient Wisdom on Welfare.
Our ancient scriptures and spiritual traditions provide a stark contrast to modern realities. They emphasize caring for the marginalized and promoting welfare for all, regardless of status. The wisdom from various traditions reminds us of our duty to help those in need. No religion is ignoring the society at large:
Bible (Leviticus 23:22): “Leave the corners of your field and the gleanings thereof for the poor and the stranger.” This verse calls for an economy of sharing, where the fruits of labour are not hoarded but distributed to the marginalized.
Quran (2:270): “And whatever you spend in charity, Allah knows it well.” Islam underscores the moral obligation to give generously to the less fortunate.
Bhagavad Gita Chapter 6, Verse 32: “…distributes food and other necessities equally to all living entities without distinction.” This speaks of equity very much, it is a call and a reminder to care for every living being.
These teachings encourage us to transcend selfishness, greed, and profit-driven mind sets. Every religion is urging us to prioritize community welfare, fairness, and compassion. Ancient wisdom contrasts sharply with the contemporary notion of employability, which often disregards such values in favour of personal gain.
The Need for a New Focus
Employability, in its current form, perpetuates a flawed system. It prioritizes personal success and profit over the well-being of the community and the planet. To redefine employability, we must shift our focus toward the greater good. True success lies not in accumulating wealth or achieving professional accolades but in using our skills and resources to improve the lives of others.
One way to achieve this is through massive, grassroots initiatives that aim to alleviate hunger, reduce inequality, and address the needs of society’s most vulnerable members. These initiatives, driven by values of compassion and equity, should be structured as self-sustaining revenue models. This is the vision that many NGOs strive for, yet, as they grow, they too can lose sight of the larger picture. Success can lead to a narrow focus on maintaining and expanding their reach, rather than staying true to their original purpose of service.
The ultimate problem arises when the finite, profit-driven mind overtakes the infinite mind of compassion and wisdom.
The true measure of employability should not be how well we fit into a system that perpetuates inequality and exploitation. Instead, employability should be defined by how well we contribute to a world that values the well-being of all its inhabitants. This requires a shift from the current model of success toward one that aligns with ancient wisdom, prioritizing the greater good over personal gain.
One of the key barriers to achieving this shift is the perception that small-scale efforts to help the less fortunate are insignificant or bound to fail. This belief is widespread in our profit-driven world, where only large, profit-making ventures get attention and resources. However, anything done on a small scale is bound to struggle if it doesn’t get the support or expansion needed to create real change.
To counter this, small but meaningful initiatives must be introduced on a large scale to gain visibility and momentum. Take the example of the concept “A Snack Pack for God”, which is based on the scriptural teaching that “you feed God when you feed the poor.” It was a simple yet powerful idea: we placed boxes in different public places with a note reading, “A Snack Pack for God.” People began contributing small food items, such as biscuit packets, to these boxes. We then gathered in groups to distribute the snacks to the poor and hungry.
The success of this humble idea led us to think more deeply about employability and how to engage those who were traditionally considered “not employable” by society. We identified individuals who had been marginalized and assigned them the task of managing five to ten snack boxes each. These individuals took pride in their work, and soon, their efforts became noticed. The community responded by compensating them for their service, turning what had started as a volunteer act of compassion into a sustainable, dignified form of employment.
Develop Employability With Meaningful Engagement of People!
This example highlights a critical lesson: employability should not be defined solely by fitting into conventional systems of profit-driven labour. It should focus on creating opportunities for individuals to engage in meaningful work that benefits both themselves and society. What we learned from the “Snack Pack for God” initiative is that even those who are often dismissed as unemployable can contribute significantly to the greater good when given a chance. In this way, employability can be reimagined as a tool for social transformation, where the focus shifts from individual success to collective well-being. By scaling up simple impactful initiatives, we can create a system that values the contributions of all people, regardless of their status or background.
These individuals not only found purpose in their work, but their efforts also had a ripple effect on society. Something began as a small-scale act of feeding the poor turned to become a movement that engaged the community in acts of kindness, compassion, and inclusivity. We can have plenty of such initiatives in all our places to address the gap in a meaningful way. There is no need to make the greedy to fail for feeding the needy. Let each one find their ways for solace!
Can we learn and have The Wisdom of Dr. Verghese Kurien?
Dr. Verghese Kurien, the father of India’s White Revolution, once said, “I am proud to be known as an employee of the farmers.” His words embody the essence of what true employability should look like. Dr. Kurien was a visionary who understood that success is not about serving one’s own interests but about dedicating one’s skills and energy to uplift those at the bottom of society.
He saw his role not as a leader in the dairy industry, but as a servant to the farmers who made the industry possible. How many of us can proudly say, “I am an employee of the poor”? Dr. Kurien’s words challenge us to rethink our roles in society. True employability should make us proud to serve others, particularly those who have been left behind. When we shift our focus from individual gain to collective well-being, we not only create more opportunities for those who need them most but also redefine success in a way that benefits everyone.
A Snack Pack for God is A Model for the Future!
The “Snack Pack for God” initiative is just one example of how small ideas can have a big impact when scaled up and supported by the community. It shows that employability is about finding meaningful ways to engage people in activities that contribute to common good. Even the most marginalized individuals, when given the opportunity, can become active participants in solving society’s problems.
This is the kind of employability we should be striving for: one that empowers individuals to make a positive impact on the world around them, and in doing so, creates a more compassionate and equitable society. By embracing this model, we can move away from a profit-driven mind-set that perpetuates inequality and exploitation, and instead build a future where every individual is valued for their contributions to the greater good. The challenge lies not in finding work for everyone, but in redefining what we consider valuable work.
Employability should no longer be measured by how well we fit into a flawed system. How much we contribute to the well-being of others! When we shift to this infinite mind of compassion and wisdom, we open up a world of possibilities for social transformation. Smallest acts of kindness can create lasting change.
