Youth Cong seeks probe into tree felling

Tribune News Service

Shimla, December 24

State Youth Congress president Vikramaditya Singh today demanded a probe into the illicit felling of trees.

“There are some issues which are above politics and strict action should be taken against those involved in illegal activities,” he said. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) could be constituted if the need arose, he said.

Talking to the mediapersons today, he said 59,478 youth had benefited from the skill development allowance in the past two years. The allowance had been increased from Rs1,000 to Rs1,500 and the age to avail the benefit had been reduced from 18 to 16 years.

He said he would request the state government to recruit people with non-political background in the Skill Development Corporation set up under the National Skill Development Council. Two Maharashtra-based companies would recruit 17,000 people countrywide out of which 1,000-1,500 would be from Himachal, he said.

An employment mela would be organised at Kala Amb on January 9, 2015, in which 30 companies from Baddi, Yamunanagar and Poanta Sahib would participate. Candidates who had passed out from the Industrial Training Institutes in any stream would be eligible for jobs, he added.

Admitting that the youth distanced itself from the Congress in the Lok Sabha elections, Vikramaditya said the Youth Congress would go beyond routine mass mobilisation and strive to become a “mediator and facilitator” for the youth.

He said employment would be created through cottage, small, micro and medium scale industries and food processing units with cold storage in apple belts. The participation of the Chief Minister and the Industries Minister in the Industrial summit helped attract investment of Rs2,500 crore, he said.

Vikramaditya said former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee was a secular leader and the Youth Congress would fight against the BJP agenda of Hindutva and not allow polarisation of votes on the basis of religion or caste in Himachal.