Workers data to be linked with Aadhaar to avoid duplication

Pratibha Chauhan

Tribune News Service

Shimla, November 13

With there being conflicting claims on the number of the jobless youth, the state government has decided to link the data of those employed in the industry with Aadhaar card to avoid any duplication and ensure minimum wages to workers.

“We will undertake an exercise to ascertain the exact number of youth who are jobless by linking the data of the unemployed to Aadhaar card so that we get the real figure,” said Bikram Singh, Industry and Labour Minister, here today. He said this would also ensure that the workers were paid full wages and the exact picture of the number of actual jobless would also emerge.

As per official record of the unemployed youth registered in various employment exchanges, the figure stands at 8,34,714 on December 31, 2017. However, the successive governments have disputed this number by claiming that it is less as many youth, who have got jobs in the industry or private sector, keep their name registered to be able to get a government job. Besides, there are many who have private jobs to maintain their names in unemployment exchanges. As such, there is a sizeable number of persons who can be labelled as “under-employed” but not jobless, opine officials of the Labour Department. He said many youth are working in the industry. But since their names are still registered, they are included in the list of jobless. The fact that the number of jobless stands above 8 lakh has been a cause of worry for every government. With a limited industry, the job avenues are also limited and it is for this reason that as per the Industrial Policy- 2004, it is mandatory for every industry to engage at least 70 per cent Himachalis for various posts. The present BJP regime has raised this to 80 per cent.

The issue of industry not fulfilling this condition has rocked the Vidhan Sabha on many occasions. Despite legislators, cutting across party lines stating that the industry was not meeting this condition, the government claims that the number of Himachalis engaged in various industrial units is above 70 per cent.

Statistics available with the Industry Department reveal that of 83,067 youth engaged in various units in the Baddi-Barotiwala-Nalagarh industrial area, 60,108 are Himachalis. As per this figure, the number of Himachali youth work out to be 72.25 per cent. Only 23,049 outsiders are working in the industry in Himachal.

Claims disputed by govt

• As per official record of the unemployed youth registered in various employment exchanges, the figure stands at 8,34,714 on December 31, 2017
• However, the successive governments have disputed this number by claiming that it is less as many youth, who have got jobs in the industry or private sector, keep their name registered to be able to get a government job.