How do you like to analyze a ‘life of an Ordinary who fails ordinary level exam’?

Imagine a mind of an unemployed? What do you see? A sad face or a happy face?

If you try to analyze a mind of a person, has no job, what are the ways that you can analyze his position, social and financial?

Socially, psychologically and economically. These are the ways you can analyze the status of a person,unemployed, according to my knowledge.

Sociologically what do you think he or she may experience, face as an inevitable member of a society, during his or her dealings with others of the society, when he or she doesn’t earn a single penny or a pound or a euro?

How do you rate or weigh or measure their ‘personalities’? Backward, forward, fearless, challenging, applause-able, rewardable?

If the unemployed is an adult person (not below 18 years of age according to local rules and regulation. This limit may slight differ in other geographical segments) if he or she still depends on others, on what others earn, do you think in any society the rest of the society treat, he or she in dignity , respectfully?

I know how some call such ones. Nikama (useless fellow), wedakata nethi eka( has no worth, no use for any work) modaya (fool) awasanawanthaya (unlucky) etc. the situation become worse if the unemployed is a male. In our society if you find a man doing nothing, or has no job, he gets no reward, praises from the society he lives. They were sort of cornered. We live in a patriarchal society meaning ours is not a matriarchal society and father or the eldest male member of the family always play the role of ‘head of family’ and to maintain his headship and as a sole decision maker of the family, it is a must that he earn a living. It was same in the ancient society, even if you keep it a side, the role of men in a family in the modern era we live.

A young man or a grownup man cannot demand him before any clang of or group of or network of society, if he earns ‘no rupees’, rupiahs or rubles etc. every person has social and economic needs. To fulfill such needs they need money, except for beggars, those who inherited any wealth from the ancient, they have to work and earn.

What do you do for living? This was/is one of the popular ways asking or judding or justifying his financial ability, by others especially by the elders of a young girl, bride before giving their certification or approval for a marriage. It was no matter whether you own a cattle or a farm or a piece of paddy land, what they were bothered about was male member’s ‘ability to run the family without becoming a burden to rest of the members of the family or to the rest of the society. Such individuals never get any recognition even from peers, unless the person has issues apparent, physical for instance. Except them, others are not pardoned in this matter.

Though there were no labour rules or no age barriers back then, now the situation is different. Now, there are definitions given to with regard to ‘formal education, to engage in a job, ‘the age demarcations’. A person below 18 years of age is a child and no child is allowed to work at any shop, factory or any entity established to deal with earning money, any profit oriented agency etc. they are not allowed to contribute labour forcefully or for wages. Though there are specifications given, according to the law, pertaining to formal education, the child mostly given no choice if they fails an exam to continue their education, especially after ordinary level examination.

For a student to continue with their formal education after O/L s, they must study and sit for the other decisive exam called ‘advanced level examination’. In order to eligible for further education, to study at state maintained Universities for instance, it is a must that they ‘pass’ the exam, earning required marks decided by the University Grant Commission of the country.

Further, if they unable to pass or get eligibilities to study further, they have other options; either they can study at private institutes established locally or elsewhere, or find a job or start their carrier life with remaining qualifications gained from formal education. i.e. ordinary level exam.

According to local education systems, there are two main stages that a student stop gaining, receiving formal education. One is when a student fails his or her ordinary level examination and the second is when the student fails his or her advance level examination, as I mentioned earlier.

Imagine within a year, total number of students sitting for the ordinary level examination = 100 000

And the total number gained required eligible marks to do study further, advance level = 95, 000 

What is the number failed to study further = 5 000.

What are the options available for this 5000 students, who had to stop involving, receiving formal education and find a job at the latter stage of life?

What are the available job options for a person who passed only his or her ordinary level examination?

• They can work or start as a labourer, skilled or otherwise, for a daily basis wages, weekly or monthly.
• Start their own home-based enterprise /self-employment if they have the capital and if get any reasonable, less burden credits, or loans. 
• If there are any projects that the government provide job opportunities for individuals like them. 

If not The government must have a policy that they give every person who fails their ordinary level examination a job fair enough to live. What other options they have?

• Stay at home, doing nothing eating and wearing what the other members of the family give or getting any remittances provide by state or any other welfare organization, government or non-government, until they reach the age ‘35’ to start their carrier as a three wheeler driver if they choose it as their ‘profession’, because according to the new haho about ‘age limit of obtaining or earning a license to drive a three wheeler is age 35 (?).

What do you think a person below 35 would choose as their carrier option, especially when they are given very limited options to choose with, from what they like, from available job categories, professions?

Isn’t choosing whatever job a person prefer, a ‘right’? isn’t it good to let them enjoy their rights ‘decision making’ with regard to their carrier life, without barring them? Even within such a background if you find unemployment rate is considerably not low or not 0% , is it worth setting or establishing rules you imprison their ‘right to choose the jobs they prefer’?

Let’s go on to the other level. According to my example given above (assumed) only, 95, 000 of them were eligible to study and face their advance level examination. If you find, out of them, only 90 000 passed their advance level examination and even out of rest of them only 80 000 of them gained eligibility to study further at the Universities, what picture can you imagine of, of their life, future?

Only 5000 students may find a job based on their results - advance level, if only any opportunities or vacancies available in the private or public job market. What about the other 5000 students who failed their advance level examination?

They have the same options above mentioned. As we know, according to the data provided by the census and statistics of the country, the unemployment rate is not very low.

Please view information given below I gathered from the internet, data provided for our viewing by census and statistics. This information may provide you some background to think further if you, private or public sector agencies with regard to your decisions ‘hiring labour/ personal for their entities/institutes. 

• The total population in Sri Lanka was estimated at 21.4 million people in 2017, according to the latest census figures. Looking back, in the year of 1960, Sri Lanka had a population of 9.9 million people 
• Youth Unemployment Rate in Sri Lanka decreased to 18.30 percent in the third quarter of 2017 from 20 percent in the second quarter of 2017. Youth Unemployment Rate in Sri Lanka averaged 24.89 percent from 1992 until 2017, reaching an all time high of 38.10 percent in the first quarter of 1994 and a record low of 15.40 percent in the fourth quarter of 2015 
• The number of unemployed persons in Sri Lanka increased to 372135 in the first quarter of 2018 from 342210 in the fourth quarter of 2017. Unemployed Persons in Sri Lanka averaged 492192.67 from 1990 until 2018, reaching an all time high of 953794 in the fourth quarter of 1990 and a record low of 282648 in the second quarter of 2017

I have a fear, when the individuals not given freedom to job, they may end up engaging other illegal ways to earn a living. Rob a bank, a house, sell illegal stuff, such as heroine, ganja, kassippu etc. when you think of establishing new acts or rules and regulations with regard to one’s carrier you have to think of those things as well. To protect a law you cannot break another. If you have the proof as to ‘only age below 35 breaks ‘traffic laws it is terrific. But it is not, we know it very well. Kindly consciously review, view data available at the relevant authorities as to know who and when an accident occurs or a traffic or road rule is not respected. Do you find those who guilty of such offenses shows some age significances or some patters that shows some specific ‘age limits / levels’?

Please do not steal an opportunity unless try to provide plenty of them for the needy. 

Thank you for reading and wish you all peace of mind. 

Both rights and responsibilities are Twin siblings ..............

a (any) right is always a twin sibling of a (any)  responsibility. every or any logically 'no individual; can think of (including myself) his or her 'rights' (only) with regard to any matter, subject without discussing or thinking about 'his or her 'responsibilities' attached with the relevant subject or matter. That is what i believe when it comes  to discussing or achieving or demanding 'rights and responsibilities' of individual creatures called 'humans' and of institutions providing any services to any nation, commonly or publicly or privately. 

A few days back, the department of Railway stopped working or suddenly chose to strike demanding their 'rights'; 'right to equal salary scale'. According to the sources, it was only a few unions of top layers of railway department personals joined the strike. 

anyhow, i believe that it is not a must that every union must support when there is a strike and is a different thing to discuss separately. 

If you individually analyze the issue putting them into category of one's workers rights', they can take relevant steps to gain what they lawfully, should be given and gain. 

what are the ways  a worker can demand or ask for their rights? following are the mechanisms i can think of. 

1) through discussions with relevant authorities. 

2) filing a complaint at relevant institutions responsible to protect workers or labour rights or case at a court (labour or other)

2) taking the option of strike / stop working, to demand their rights (if only discussions and other steps taken were no use or fails). 

in option one or two they can discuss with the authorities  either individually or as  the workers of relevant unit, department, segment; as members of union also as all island single union consists of many sub or individual unions gathered or organized for the same reasons or purposes.

It is a duty of relevant authorities to provide them adequate time and favorable environment to discuss their issues and matters pertaining to their carrier, salaries, benefits welfare etc and that may also help prevent or avoid any workers strike beforehand. Following such mechanisms or procedures is not just a duty of the authority, it is their responsibility as well when considering 'rights of ordinary civilians. 

yet, 

similarly if we believe that you have the right to do so, i.e.  demanding a discussion or talk, in order to convince or inform your/their (your co-workers) needs and wants with regard to your/their 'job'/profession/carrier can any  strategies such as 'sudden strikes'  be used, forgetting your 'responsibility/ responsibilities? and rights of others attached with the service you provide?'   

No, i believe.  

we all know that your responsibilities are described based on the services provide by your agency or institution. In every country there are job categories or services known or called as 'essential services'. i.e. health, security, etc. i believe for any institution or institutions that provide/s their services using 'human resources' (workers at any level) needs to be reported to their service stations or places popularly or administratively known as 'offices'. Therefore 'public transport segment has become one of the most important essential service providers of any community/country whether you lawfully or officially  or politically believe it or not.   if the worker travels to their work places do not reach on time, what would happen? 

Other than the members/workers of the private or public service providing agencies who use said facilities, who are the other groups of people using public or private transport facilities?

Following are some of them i can think of.

The ordinary citizens using private or public transport facilities to reach their targets and aims, places to get what they want (services or other), those who study at formal or informal education facilities / institutions such as schools and universities, entrepreneurs, traders and those who visit the country as tourists or as individuals or groups aiming at achieving any other objectives. i.e. enterprise, you can think of other relevant groups etc. using private or public transport facilities.

Do you have a right to disturb such their plans or objectives of life or carrier?

No, i believe. i.e. every student is expected to be at exam halls on time and needless to say that it is very important for any student facing an exam that has the ability to change their lives forever. i.e ordinary level exam and advance level exam for instance. they can demand it as their right without any doubts. 

often we see that when trying to achieve ones rights the right of another is disturbed or spoiled or broken. what we must do to minimize such issues or conflicts is your duty and is your responsibility.    

further.......

i tried to discuss , according to my knowledge of course, your rights as a worker/ union. As an ordinary citizen (like others) i have every right to use or select 'public transport facilities or if i choose to use 'private facilities provided for civilians. not just because 'every public entity /institution is maintained by 'public money' or money of people of the country, money collected from various ways or sources from people, citizens of the country. 

Therefore as civilians we have the right to question or when ever we do not receive human or civilian friendly service from any public institution maintained, administered by first and foremost institution implemented for or established to deal with needs and wants or  democratically elected institution to cater requirements of civilians of country,  or legal agency called 'government' (according to my knowledge) 

It is their duty to take care of the needs of civilians in first hand, accurately, efficiently, without harming any rights of any single person or agency, groups.

What strategies you should use to cater needs of both parties (service gainer and the provider) is your duty or it is your job not the civilians. But as the civilians, it is important to maintain patience without troubling peace and harmony of any segment of the society is not only vital but also important.  Also as a worker/ as workers / service providing agency they have the responsibility to support maintain harmony in the society by providing continuous service, especifically concentrating and considering the 'quality , time factor' or efficnecy as well.

It is true that other than from foreign aids and funds, loans and credits, whole country and its work and functions are run or maintained by indirectly or directly earned profit by every singular institution.  it is proved that or therefore we can argue that no worker or institution(s) can be maintained if they do not earn any profit by providing quality-full service for the entire nation. meaning it affects when they demanding their rights such as 'salary increments'

Providing continuous service is therefore highly important.  

further..............

There is no doubt that role of both 'service provider and gainer or every single individual, worker, beneficiary is equally important in order to maintain peace and harmony and achieve everyone desires or wants and needs, economical , social or political in a sustainable manner.  

no person or agency or institution, service provider can be sustained, alone or isolatedly in a society all or most sector is interconnected, officially, socially, economically. Yet, no issue can be solved effectively if you think differently politically departing from one another. when there is a common issue you all must come to a one singular stage and discuss and support. 

They, we, you all have to work cordially with each other by providing better service and when it is fulfilled automatically your requirements are filled or can be achieved (i believe) and as a worker/workers you do not have to run your institution earning no profit or less profit. and when you earn a good profit that every cent or rupee of money, in return, can be invested for your own benefit, improvement of the segment finally to achieve sustainability of your agency and as a whole. 

in this world we live, in order to solve a problem of an individual, there are very many ways, either officially introduced, lawfully introduced or human rightly introduced etc. Choosing very right mechanism, strategy depending on need, requirement, essentially should be done on time and is your duty and responsibility. 

Sometimes one can quite a person who is trying to get what he or she wants just by giving what she or he needs or have right to gain or demand.

sometimes a person who tries to get what he or she wants by hitting or slapping another can be muted by slapping in return.( slapping or hitting has various definitions, choose what is relevant or right)

But those were not always the only strategies that can be used to solve a problem or minimize or stop an issue temporarily or permanently. sometimes if someone is trying to slap you or hit you , you may have to maintain or use another strategy in order to defense (in real life) yourself or  to defeat a person, group. 

What is the most effective method to solve a public issue or an issue that affects most lives or every life?  according to my knowledge no issue can be solved if you do no try to identify the cause or the root of the problem. Therefore it is important to 'spend some time or invest some time to 'study the cause' of issue. and then only it is easy to apply better or most suitable method to address the issue permanently and effectively. 

i personally believe that no individual should forget the 'human factor' or humanitarian side of the rights of others when demanding your or our rights. when you think or consider those things, you automatically get the support of the mass or public to earn or gain or protect your rights. 

i hope now you can agree to what i mentioned and discussed earlier in the introduction of this essay; a right is a twin sibling of responsibility.      

  

Happy Birth Day! Amma and Dr. Anoma Ariyaratne

This photograph is dedicated for both of you.