The BJD Government’s “tall claims” regarding industrialisation and employment generation are far from truth, alleged PCC president Niranjan Patnaik.
In the ease of doing business, Odisha has gone down to 14th place in the year 2017 as per report. One year prior to that, the State was on 11th position.
The Government claims the State has excelled in all fronts. But large and MSME sector are not satisfied with the climate provided here and are now in search of suitable option, Patnaik told.
“It is told by the State Government that all facilities are available here to set up industries and doing business. But only half of the promoters have started their projects, of those who have signed MoU with the State Government,” he said.
Also due to uncertainty in supply of raw materials, they are reluctant to go for realisation of full capacity mentioned in the MoU. Most of the projects are entangled in land acquisition issues. Out of 92 MoUs signed two years back, only 46 have gone for partial production, as per data.
Out of those 36 are in steel, four in thermal power, two in cement and three in aluminium sector. Those who claim to have gone for partial production have done this to avail some benefits from Government, Patnaik said further.
The PCC chief mentioned that as per labour Bureau Report there were 2.6 lakh graduates aspiring for jobs in the State, as Odisha almost topped the country with a high of around 15 per cent unemployment rate among graduates in the year 2014.
Such high unemployment rate among graduates could only be seen in Bihar and north-eastern States in the country, he pointed out.
Patnaik demanded that the Chief Minister take immediate steps to create employment opportunities for lakhs of unemployed youths.