Uttaranchal: Job quota draws flak

The decision of the Congress government in Uttaranchal to reserve 70 per cent jobs in non-technical posts in industries for local youths has come under fire from industries as well as political parties.

The decision taken at a recent cabinet meeting gave the industries six-month's time to fill up the vacancies.

For this purpose, the Cabinet had also cleared a proposal to set up a State Council with the chief minister as its chairman, which would work in tandem with industries for filling the job reservation, although government statistics showed industries are voluntarily providing more than 80 per cent jobs to local youths.

The move followed pressure exerted by Pradesh Congress president Harish Rawat who had threatened to stage sit-in strike demanding 75 per cent reservation for local youths in the new industries coming up in the state.

Although most of the industries like Britannia, LG, Dabur are not openly criticising the move, top officials of these industries said they were not taken into confidence about the move.

The move also came under fire from the state's main Opposition, the Bharatiya Janata Party, with its state unit general secretary Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank expressing doubts whether the government would be able to enforce its decision.

"The Congress had promised to create 200,000 jobs every year in its manifesto. But it failed to fulfill it and now I wonder how such a decision can ever be enforced," Nishank said.

NCP state president Surya Kant Dhasmana also threatened to launch a state-wide agitation from November 10.

"This is just a false promise," Dhasmana said.

Most of the industrial chambers, including Indian Industries Association, Uttaranchal and Kumaon Garhwal Chamber of Commerce and Industries also criticised the decision saying it would hamper investment scenario in the state.