The third working day of the Odisha Assembly witnessed a stormy monsoon session after the Opposition tried to corner the government over unemployment.
The day began with a discussion over unemployment after the Congress party introduced an adjournment motion over the same.
Senior Congress leader and Jeypore MLA, Tara Prasad Bahinipati slammed the government asking about the Biju Janata Dal’s (BJD’s) 2014 election manifesto where it had promised to provide 2 lakh jobs to the youths of Odisha. “Where did that promise go?’ asked Bahinipati.
Addressing the press, Bahinipati said, “Currently there are more than 1 lakh vacancies in the State government. Youths are forced to leave their home and migrate to other states for jobs. The promises the State government has made over the years are just eye wash and nothing else.”
Bahinipati even targeted the Centre and said, “They had promised to provide 2 crore employments each year. But we can’t see anything in reality.”
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was not far behind criticizing the State government over the same issue. Senior BJP leader and Deputy Leader of the Opposition, Bishnu Sethi said, “We have discussed the unemployment problem many times in the Assembly in the past but the government seems to have slept over it.”
they are assuring 2 lakh employments each year, looking at the infrastructure and base in the State, it is hard to believe that the government would be able to achieve the target,” Sethi added.
Replying in the Assembly, Skill Development Minister, Priti Ranjan Gharai said, “The government has 2.26 lakh (22.5%) vacancies to be filled right now. However, we are training the youths in a mission mode. More than 1 lakh youths have been trained undr the skill development programme. Out of which 27,611 youths have already been engaged in several jobs. The State government has established 82 Skill Development Centre in the State.”