Skilling youths, inviting MNCs: Patowary

‘Government jobs no solution to unemployment in State’

BY OUR STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI, Feb 8: Industry and Commerce minister Chandra Mohan Patowary has said that mere job creation in government sector cannot solve unemployment problem in the State.

Replying to a question by AGP MLA Pabindra Deka in the assembly on Wednesday, Patowary said that government jobs cannot be a solution to unemployment. “We have to move ahead in mission mode to solve the problem. With this aim, we have targeted to impart skill development training to 1 lakh 50 thousand unemployed youths in the State. We are also discussing with some multitiol companies and have invited them to set up plants in the State. Patanjali has already started work here and we are in touch with Pepsi as well,” the minister said.

He further said that to turn Assam into a sugar hub, the State government is holding talks with All India Sugar Mills Association, which will create employment avenues.

“We have also introduced new vocatiol courses in the IITs of the State. Apart from this, training in repair of refrigerator, air conditioner, washing machine and mobile phone is being imparted to unemployed youths in collaboration with Samsung. Short term programmes are also being imparted under Modular Employable Scheme (MES),” Patowary informed.

He further said Oil India Limited (OIL), ONGC and HPCL are also imparting skill development training to unemployed youths of the State.

Earlier, MLA Pabindra Deka said, “There are around 23 lakh unemployed youths in the State. A sense of hopelessness is gripping them. The government should reveal what steps it has taken to solve this problem.”

Deka further said that government should ensure ‘cent percent appointment’ of local youths in Central government offices and public sector undertakings in the State. 

He said that even though some multitiol companies have come to the State, the wages in such companies are very low.