Tripura CM, Biplab Deb, says starting paan shops is an option for educated unemployed youth

Highlights Tripura Chief Minister's advice for educated and unemployed youth

Be self-employed; start paan shop or breed cows: Biplab Deb

Narrow-minded ideas are the reasons behind unemployment: Mr Deb

Continuing with his string of controversial comments, the Chief Minister of Tripura, Biplab Deb advised the educated youth in his state to "set up paan shops instead of running after political parties for several years to get government jobs and waste vital time of their life." A bank balance of Rs 5 lakh would have been a reality by now for them, said Mr Deb.The Chief Minister urged educated youth to become self-employed by starting various projects in the animal resource sector, with bank loans under the Prime Minister's Mudra scheme. Apart from paan shops, "milking cows," is also another option according to Mr Deb."Every household should have a cow. Milk sells at Rs 50 per litre; instead of being jobless for 10 years, if these people sold milk, they would have had a bank balance of Rs 10 lakh by now, the Chief Minister said while speaking at a seminar organised by the Tripura Veterinary Council.Mr Deb said any unemployed youth, with a minimum of Rs 75, 000 borrowed from the bank and little effort, can easily earn at least Rs 25,000 per month but the hurdle is the "culture that has grown in Tripura during the last 25 years."The Chief Minister believes "narrow-minded" ideas like graduates cannot opt for farming or start poultry are the reasons behind unemployment. Prime Minister Narendra Modi , during a TV interview in January, rejected criticism that his government has failed to create jobs; Mr Modi had said a person selling pakodas is also employed.On April 27, Mr Deb courted controversy with his remarks against former Miss World Diana Hayden. The very next day he had a unique career advice for civil engineers , who he thought, 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 at an event on Friday.