Open paan shops or raise cows, don't chase govt jobs: Tripura CM Biplab Deb

Biplab Kumar Deb's comments come days after PM Narendra Modi cautioned BJP leaders to steer clear of controversies and not make irresponsible statements. Here are the details

Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb has often found himself in the middle of controversies lately, thanks to his foot-in-mouth statements that trigger strong reactions and criticism. After receiving enough rap for his statements over “internet in the age of Mahabharata” and remarks on why Diana Hayden should never have won world pageants, even as Aishwarya Rai winning was fine, the Tripura chief minister has done it again.

This time, it is with a bizarre career advice to the jobless youth of his state. Deb suggested that they should chase self-employment through setting up paan shops and rearing cows instead of going after government jobs. He asked the educated youth not to run behind politicians for government jobs and instead become “self-employed” for a better living.

According to the Tripura Chief Minister, the youth of Tripura can become self-employed by starting various projects under the animal resource sector with bank loans, under the Prime Minister's Mudra scheme.

It is interesting to note that Deb’s comments come despite and days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi cautioned all the BJP leaders to steer clear of controversies and not make irresponsible statements. 

"The youth here runs after political parties for several years to get a govt job and wastes the vital time of their life, had the same youth instead of running after parties set up a paan shop he would have by now had a bank balance of Rs 500,000," said Deb.

Deb also said that apart from paan shops, milking cows could also generate good employment among the youth. ANI tweeted: 

He said while addressing a seminar organised by Tripura Veterinary Council on 'The role of the veterinary profession in sustainable development to improve livelihoods, food security, and safety', on the eve of World Veterinary Day, at Pragna Bhavan in Agartala.

According to Deb, any unemployed youth with a minimum amount of Rs 75,000 borrowed from the bank and with little self-effort, can easily earn at least Rs 25,000 every month, but the hurdle in this is the culture that has grown in Tripura during the last 25 years.

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He said that there are narrow-minded concepts like a graduate cannot opt for farming, start poultry, or piggery because if he does so, his class will go down.

Deb added that the Narendra Modi government at the centre has provided various bank loans provisions for the startup projects under the Mudra scheme so that people can get self-employed and live with prestige.

However, due to the mindset, the educated youths do not opt to join the various traditional sectors in agriculture and allied sectors, which are also equally important for sustainable development to improve livelihoods and food security of the nation.

ALSO READ: Get self-employed instead of running after politicians for govt jobs: Tripura CM to youth

Earlier Deb had also mentioned that civil engineers are better suited for civil services as compared to mechanical engineers.

"Those who are from a mechanical engineering background should not opt for civil services. Society has to be built up. Civil engineers have this knowledge... Because those in the administration have to build society," he said in the event.

Arts graduates use to appear for the civil services examination and now, medical and engineering graduates are also joining the services, he said.

Deb said civil service officers should be all-rounders as "people who are expert in all disciplines have the highest demand".

To drive his point home, he cited the examples of Sachin Tendulkar and Kapil Dev.

"People take names of special players such as Sachin Tendulkar and Kapil Dev. Dev's bowling was good, but batting was also excellent. This is the age of speciality. All-rounders are accorded highest priority," Deb said.

Deb is no stranger to making controversial statements.

A few days ago, he had questioned the crowning of Diana Hayden as "Miss World" in 1997 and alleging that international beauty contests were a farce.

Earlier this month, Deb, an arts graduate, had claimed that Internet and satellite communication existed in the days of Mahabharata, drawing criticism from Twitterati, intellectuals and his political adversaries.

With inputs from Agencies