BJP stages walkout on unemployment allowance in HP

Shimla, Mar 30 (UNI) The entire BJP today staged a walkout from the Himachal Pradesh Assembly after a private member resolution moved by Rajiv Bindal (BJP), seeking unemployment allowance of Rs 500 per month to the educated unemployed in the state, was rejected.

As soon as Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh concluded his reply on the private members' resolution and asked the BJP to withdraw its resolution, Mr Bindal stood up and said the government was now backtracking from its promise on employment and was as such staging a walkout in protest.

Earlier, in his reply the chief minister said the government was concerned about the problem and was doing its best to provide employment opportunities to the unemployed youth, but was unable to concede to the demand of providing unemployment allowance.

The state government had planned to amend the Contract Labout Act in the state to ban contract labour, he said and reiterated his government's resolve to provide 70 per cent jobs to Himachalis in the new industrial units and hydel projects in the state.

''We have the political will to ensure 70 per cent employment for Himachalis in industrial units and hydel projects at every level, besides enforcing the labour laws strictly to stop the exploitation of the workers in the industry.'' Mr Singh said the government would also establish labour offices in the industrial areas and at every site, where big projects were being executed.

Identity cards would also be issued to people employed in these units along with their permanent address and this would help in identifying outside employed there, he said.

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