The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Naidu fumes at IT, biotech companies

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, May 09, 2007
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Naidu fumes at IT, biotech companies

Special Correspondent

Accuses them of denying jobs to those trained under new Industries Department scheme

BANGALORE: Major Industries Minister Katta Subramanya Naidu on Tuesday lashed out at information technology and biotechnology companies for denying jobs to candidates selected under the Suvarna Kayaka Udyoga Shikshana scheme of the Industries Department.

He told presspersons that information technology and biotechnology firms had even refused to provide data on the number of candidates recruited and the number of Kannadigas among them. The department had decided to request the Information Technology Department to collect data on jobs provided by software firms to candidates selected under the scheme, he said.

The programme is part of the State Government's plan to provide employment to one lakh unemployed youth in 2007 and is being implemented with the support of industry associations.

The scheme, which was launched in January, has provided training and jobs to 40,000 unemployed youth so far. Many more could have secured jobs if software firms had cooperated with the Government. Under the existing laws, it is not possible for the Government to take action against information technology and biotechnology firms for denying jobs to such candidates, Mr. Naidu said.

In order reach the target set for the year, the department will hold a conference of small and medium industries at Palace Grounds here on June 17. At the conference, he would appeal to companies to recruit candidates selected under the scheme, Mr. Naidu said.

Tax exemption

The department will grant tax exemption for a five-year period to entrepreneurs who establish industries in 114 backward taluks in the State. Other facilities such as power and water will also be supplied at concessionary rates, he said.

The department has submitted a proposal to the Revenue Department seeking an amendment to the Land Revenue Act to liberalise the land acquisition process in rural areas. Land is now being acquired through the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB) and it involves cumbersome procedures. The proposed amendment would allow industrialists to acquire land directly from farmers at a price sought by the later.

Mr. Naidu said several projects had not been executed as planned because of the delay in land acquisition by the KIADB.

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