Govt seeks legal opinion on enacting employment guarantee law

Shimla, Mar 8 (UNI) Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh today assured the House to seek legal opinion on enacting a law to guarantee employment to at least one member of a family that does not have any member in government or semi government organisations.

Replying to a private member resolution motion moved by former Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal, he said since the issue has been raised in the past and the laws enacted by the previous state governments had been set aside by the High Court it would not be proper to bring such a legislation.

He said people in Sirmaur and Chamba districts were being provided at least 100 days of guaranteed jobs under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, which was likely to be extended to the remaining districts of the state in a phased manner.

Disputing the number of unemployed people in the state, he said their number in various employment exchanges was 7, 61,693 till December 31, last year, he said.

A large number of people continue to have their names in the employment exchanges for better opportunities that increased the total number of unemployed, Mr Singh said.

UNI