The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Move to ensure jobs for Kannadigas

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jul 15, 2005

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Move to ensure jobs for Kannadigas

Staff Reporter

In thelegislature Govt. to monitor compliance with Sarojini Mahishi report

BANGALORE: The Industries and Commerce Department has taken up an exercise to monitor industries to ensure they are complying with the Sarojini Mahishi report, which has recommended that Kannadigas be given preference in recruitment.

The Industries Minister, P.G.R. Sindhia told Shrikante Gowda (Janata Dal - Secular) in the Legislative Council during a discussion on the subject that a Cabinet sub-committee headed by the Chief Minister, N. Dharam Singh, will meet soon after the legislature session concludes, to evolve a policy that will ensure that industries comply with the recommendation.

In the past eight months, the Government has found that most private sector industries in the State except in Bangalore are implementing the Mahishi report recommendations. "Bangalore, however, is a different story.

In the city and in the urban district, we have found 135 industries that are using loopholes in the rules to avoid punishment," Mr. Sindhia said.

In many factories and multinational companies, the managements are getting away by reporting that they have less than 50 employees.

Monitoring

The Government is likely to monitor compliance every two years instead of five years, and this will ensure not only compliance with the Sarojini Mahishi report but also the report of the D.M. Nanjundappa Committee on Regional Imbalances, Mr. Sindhia added.

Plan to revive PSUs

Mr. Sindhia, announced in the Legislative Council on Wednesday that a few sick PSUs (public sector units) will be rejuvenated and the KGF gold mines revived in collaboration with an Australian company.

Intervening in the debate on the demands for grants of the Department of Industries and Commerce, the Minister informed M.P. Nadagouda (Janata Dal-U) that an Australian company has come forward to separate gold from the ore excavated from the mines.

The Government is thinking of reviving some of the 90 PSUs. Garments and agarbathi units and an institute for training skilled labour will be set up in KGF, he added.

Industries in Tumkur

Mr. Sindhia said the industrial development in Tumkur, Dandeli and Harihar has been on the decline, and the department has conducted studies on setting up other industries in these places.

The Minister said that the automobile part manufacturer, MICO, will set up a unit at the site of the HMT watch factory in Tumkur.

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