Strictly Implement 70% Job Quota For Himachalies In Industries

Indu Patial

The writer is Hamirpur based editor in sports magazine ‘Penalty Corner’

More than 300 big pharma companies arrived in Himachal Pradesh after it was granted special industrial package in 2003. Barring few, marketing offices of all these companies are located in Chandigarh, Delhi, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh or Mumbai to carry out marketing related recruitments. The necessary staff required for projection is sent to Baddi, Barotiwala, Nalagarh, Kala Amb and Una from their already running units. Himachal has become one such state in Northern India that has now become famous as a pharma hub.

But surprisingly, companies that availed benefits under special industrial package have Himachal nowhere in the agenda. Leaders of the state mired allegations-counter allegations to secure their self interests do not consider imposition of providing employment to youths in industries as primary objective. As a result, people from other states dominate prime posts in industries operating in Himachal while Himachalis are hired as helper, security guard, driver or labour class. And in order to grab even these petty jobs, they have to look for political recommendations. The state government should not issue no objection certificate (NOC) to outside companies until they strictly implement 70% jobs quota to Himachalies. And it should not remain confined to election manifestos and political statements, but continuous efforts should be put in to implement it on ground.

Himachal Pradesh and other universities produce thousands of MBA, BBA degree holders every year. Besides this, thousands come out of universities and colleges holding B.Sc and M.Sc degrees. These degree holders can be absorbed in pharma companies. There are numerous pharma colleges operating in the state too producing thousands of graduates and postgraduates in pharma sector. But neither employment cell of the Industry Department nor Labour and Employment Department have any record as to how many of them have been employed by pharma companies. Obviously, companies are free to hire at their will due to a lack of monitoring in this context.

The companies also organise job fairs but reject Himachali students terming them incompetent. Every government guarantees investors of giving utmost importance to their benefits. But lack in strictly implementing the policy to ensure jobs of youth? Political leaders should stop viewing youth only as a vote bank and provide them employment opportunities.

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