Pharma companies would solve unemployment: Chief Minister

Shimla, May 23: Pharmaceutical companies coming here would contribute significantly in solving the unemployment problem of the state, said Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh.

The Chief Minister yesterday laid the foundation-stone of Kasturba Gandhi Girls Residential School at Andhra village of Rohru Sub-Division in the district, to be constructed under SSA at a cost of Rs 15 lakh.

The Chief Minister, while addressing a rally after the stone laying ceremony said that all the renowned pharmaceutical companies of national and international repute are coming forward to set up their manufacturing units in the state which would be responsible for manufacture of 60 per cent of the total medicines in the country in near future.

He said that all these companies would require skilled manpower for manufacturing medicines and would open new vistas to the unemployed youth of the State.

Mr Singh said that to meet the requirement of skilled manpower, state government has started a Pharmacy College at Rohroo, while many others have been granted permission under SCVT programme to train the youth in pharma sector.

He said that the industrial sector had vast requirements of other skilled manpower for which necessary training programme had been started in government and private sectors to fill the gap. He addressed the unemployed youth to get necessary training in specific industrial skills which would ensure them sufficient employment opportunities.

Mr Singh said that state government was concerned about unemployment problem prevalent among educated youths and was making concerted efforts to create vast employment opportunities so that youth could be benefited.

He said that industrial and hydel power were major sectors which had vast employment opportunities and government was committed to exploit both the sectors to the optimum.

He said state government was maintaining the condition of 70 per cent employment vigorously and had deployed labour officers in industrial areas to ensure that adequate employment was being given to unemployed youth of the State.

He said government would not allow any entrepreneur to bye pass the condition especially relating to employment by any entrepreneur.

The Chief Minister said the identified hydel potential of the State was being exploited to the optimum level and remaining projects would also be allotted for execution in joint venture with private entrepreneurs on priority, so that the Tadditional revenue and employment could be generated. He said State had adopted revised power policy, which was being implemented in letter and spirit. He further said 35,000 additional employment avenues would be created in the Government sector during current financial year.

The Chief Minister said work on Dodra Kwar road was near completion and the area would be linked with the mainstream.

Mr Singh said after coming to power his Government had adopted strict financial discipline and managed its finances properly, which had helped Government in carrying out developmental activities uninterruptedly at faster pace. He said his Government has inherited a vast deficit of Rs 15,000 crore from previous government, which was being returned regularly and so far no installment had been missed.

He said despite all odds and financial constraints, development was being carried out at a faster pace, which had ensured balanced and uniform development of the State. He also directed authorities to construct various link roads in the valley on priority so that people benefitted with connectivity.

Earlier, Chief Minister announced upgradation of Government High School, Samoli to Senior Secondary School after he dedicated foot bridge constructed by Forest Department at a cost of Rs 23.60 lakh to the people of the area.

He also announced upgradation of Government Primary School, Vataru to Middle School at Seema.

UNI