By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, July 25, 2019: The Opposition BJP and Congress on Thursday cautioned the Naveen Patnaik led BJD government of a possible revolt by the unemployed youths if it failed to create enough job opportunities.

Taking part in the debate on the Opposition-sponsored adjournment motion in the state Assembly here, Congress Legislature Party leader Narasingha Mishra expressed grave concern over the growing unemployment problem in Odisha. About 85 lakh job seekers were waiting for employment, he added saying that more than 1.31 lakh sanctioned posts were lying vacant in various government departments.

Unemployed youths were indulging in crimes in the absence of employment. “If the government does not solve the growing unemployment problem, the unemployed will rise in revolt”, he warned.

Corroborating Mishra’s statement, Leader of Opposition and senior BJP MLA Pradipta Naik presented a report in the assembly claiming that in 2007-08, Odisha had 1.14 crore migrant labourers, out of which around 10 lakh are staying outside the state to eke out their livelihood. Odisha government had signed an MoU with Tata Trust to create employment opportunities in 30 adopted districts, but nothing has been implemented yet, Naik said.

Naik further stated that more than 35 lakh youths in the state have registered their names at the employment exchange offices, but only 1.3 per cent of the total (45,783) have been employed so far. “Though there are more than 1.35 lakh vacant government posts, no steps are being taken to fill the vacancies. Despite having so many industries, there’s no opportunity for locals. Eventually, people are forced to go outside Odisha for work, and return either dead or tortured vigorously. To avoid such mishappenings, government should take necessary steps to overcome the unemployment crisis,” said the LoP.

Senior Congress leader Tara Prasad Bahinipati rued that Odisha government was not learning lessons from other states. Recently, Andhra Pradesh assembly has passed a law making it mandatory for employment of 75 percent local youths in the industries coming up in the state.

“In 20 years of Naveen-rule, job opportunity has gone decreasing. There is no employment for educated youths in Odisha. Around 16000 posts are vacant in police department. There are no doctors in hospitals; schools are functioning without sanctioned strength of teachers. There is less opportunity for Odisha youths in IT sector here. The situation of migrant labourers has grown worse over the years,” Bahinipati added.

Responding to the debate on the adjournment motion, Skill Development and Technical Education Minister Premananda Naik said, Odisha government accords highest priority to skill development and employment of youth of our state. Government has created a unified authority styled as Odisha Skill Development Authority in 2016-17. The government is successfully implementing the state-sponsored and Central government skill development and employment generation programmes including the Chief Minister’s Employment Generation Programme.

Moreover, to look after the safety and welfare of the Odia migrant workers, the state government has undertaken various activities. To curb illegal recruitment of migrant workers and their exploitation, as many as 28 prosecution cases have been filed during 2008-19, said the minister.