Dehradun, 5 May 2007
Admitting that private industries in Uttarakhand are soft-pedaling on the issue of reserving 70 per cent jobs for local youths, Chief Minister BC Khanduri has asked chief secretary SK Das to prepare a comprehensive report on the issue.
Taking serious note of tepid response from industries on complying with the rule of appointing unemployed youths from the state, Khanduri states that most units had invested in Uttarakhand only for the tax incentives.
As per provisions of the special industrial package for the state announced by the Centre, new industrial units in Uttarakhand are exempt from income tax and excise payments for a period of 10 years from the date of manufacturing.
The new policy led to mushrooming of industries in Haridwar, Dehradun and Udham Singh Nagar and the previous Congress regime made a rule directing all new units to reserve 70 per cent jobs for local youths.
In a meeting of the industrial development department, Khanduri noted that while most companies were availing the tax and excise benefits, they were not serious on giving jobs to Uttarakhand youths in their units.
Apart from preparing a report on employment patterns in these industries, the chief minister asked the chief secretary to arrange for meetings with associations of these companies to discuss the employment issue.
Khanduri made it clear that those units, which are only availing the tax benefits and not giving adequate jobs to local youths should not be considered eligible to run their businesses in Uttarakhand.
“Instead of setting up plants in the state to assemble parts produced outside the state only to get tax relief, industries should start production of goods in Uttarakhand. Only then it would benefit local youths,” he remarked.
The chief minister directed that instead of appointing computer operators, clerks and labourers from the state on daily wage basis or through contractors, industries should enumerate them in their rolls as permanent employees.
Stressing on the need for setting up industries in hilly areas of the state to benefit youths residing in rural and remote areas, Khanduri sought reports on functioning and performance of district industrial centres.
News Source: http://www.hindustantimes.com