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Friday, Jun 25, 2004

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CM's assurance on jobs to Himachalis

By Our Staff Correspondent

SHIMLA, JUNE 24. The State Chief Minister, Virbhadra Singh, has said that Himachal Pradesh is not an exception facing the rising problem of unemployment. While replying to a private member's resolution, he said the figure of about 9 lakh unemployed in the State was not true and does not reflect the real position.

The Chief Minister agreed that there was a considerable decrease in jobs in the Government sector after the wave of economic liberalisation. But there was also a spurt of jobs in the private sector, he said and added that in Himachal alone there had been an investment of Rs 4000 crore in that sector.

Refuting the BJP's charge that sub-contracts were being given to outsiders in the various hydro-electric projects, the Chief Minister said his Government had passed strict instructions against this and was committed to provide 70 per cent employment to the Himachalis at all levels. He warned that any such projects that were bringing employees from outside the State would be bannedRejecting the resolution he said, an additional burden of Rs 215 crore would fall on the financially- starved State if an allowance of even Rs 200 was given to every unemployed person in the State.

Earlier moving the resolution, the Mr. Ramesh Dhwala said since the Communists are also now supporting the UPA Government, an unemployment allowance of Rs 500 at least should be given to the large army of unemployed persons in the State.

He demanded an exhaustive policy on the unemployment problem.

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CM's assurance on jobs to Himachalis