Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi on Wednesday said though the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam government had created employment opportunities in the last four years both in government departments and private sector, he would be satisfied only on reaching a situation in which no one was facing unemployment.
Addressing a function organised to launch training for youth in private sector and hand over job offers to those who had completed the training, the Chief Minister said that after lifting the ban on recruitment imposed by the previous All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam government, the DMK government had provided employment to over 5 lakh people.
Mr. Karunanidhi said that whenever he entered into an agreement with industrial houses he would ensure that they would generate employment to local people, especially those around the industrial areas.
“When compared to other States, Tamil Nadu is increasingly becoming an industrial one and it has generated employment not only for those who are qualified, but also for non-skilled workers,” he said.
While pointing out that his government was providing dole to the unemployed youth according to their educational qualification, the Chief Minister sought the continuous support of the youth for the development of the State. DMK MP Kanimozhi said the State government had succeeded in bringing together the youth who had no idea about where their opportunities were lying and the industries that were looking for workers who would suit their needs.
She also advised the youth to take up the jobs even if they were not happy with the offer, saying it could be a launch pad for a good career.
Labour Minister T.M. Anbarasan said the government had created over 10 lakh jobs both in private and public sector in the last four-and-a-half years.
Chief Secretary S. Malathi said though there was nothing new in governments offering training to unemployed youths, the Tamil Nadu government had gone a step ahead and secured employment for them.
Talking about the first phase of the training programme, Manikam Ramaswami, Chairman, Skills Task Force, CII Southern Region, said the event provided a clear idea about the youth's job preference, their expectations of salary, besides the regions where unemployment prevailed.
In the first phase, 50,000 persons participated in the camps and 17,600 were selected for employment. In the current year, it has been decided to provide training to one lakh youth.
Labour and Employment Department Secretary Ashok Dongre and Employment and Training Director Santosh K. Mishra participated.
