Reduction in quota for Himachalis in armed forces irks CM

Shimla, Mar 29 (UNI) Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh today expressed concern over the reduction in reservation quota for Himachalis in the armed forces and said the issue is being raised with the Centre.

Replying to a question by Vijai Singh Mankotia (Congress) during Question Hour in the Assembly here after an 11-day recess, he said the reduction in the quota in the defence forces was adversely affecting employment opportunities for the youth of the state.

Mr Singh said according to the new policy, recruitment in the armed forces was now being done on the basis of the population of the state instead of open recruitment.

The state government had taken up the matter with the Centre since it was a family tradition among the people of Himachal to join defence forces following the footsteps of their forefathers, he said.

He said the government was alive to the problem and would ensure that more people from the state were recruited in the defence forces.

Referring to the low level of per capita income in Kangra, Una, Mandi and Hamirpur districts of the state as compared to other states, he said this was due to the fact that the income of large percentage of people from these districts, who were in the defence forces, was not taken into consideration.

He said income of the defence personnel was not added to the district domestic product to avoid doubling of the figures since it was already added to that state's income where it was generated and not where it was sent afterwards.

Replying to another supplementary by Ravinder Singh Ravi (BJP), he said two Special Economic Zones were being set up in the state one in Una district and another in Kangra district.

While the one being set up in Kangra district would entirely be an export-oriented, the one being set at Una district would have an airport, several industries and housing colonies, he said.

UNI