I also agree with his estimate that on an average about 30,000 people enter the job market every day. But, then, he says that 450 of them find jobs.

If 450 do indeed find jobs then I'd like to add that many more - 12,500 -- were losing jobs.

We know from the BSE-CMIE effort to measure unemployment that on a net basis jobs are being lost. It is the inference from India's largest household survey.

1.5 million jobs were lost in the first four months of 2017 and job losses have continued into the next four months as well. It is imperative that we pay attention to these results and find remedies to the problem.

It is apparent that there is an attempt to brush aside the results of all surveys that point to a deteriorating jobs situation. This is counter-productive.

The Labour Bureau's Quarterly Report on Employment Scenario was assailed for a small sample. But, the sample was raised from about 2,000 to 10,000 recently. The sample can always be raised further.

Public institutions must be criticised constructively but, their efforts cannot be shunned in the manner in which the Labour Bureau's efforts have been.

A systematic effort to collect data on employment from establishments has been seriously compromised without an alternative in place. This will remain a great dis-service to the nation unless the damage is repaired besides alternatives being put in place.