Hyderabad, July 24:Andhra Pradesh has become the first state in the country to reserve 75 per cent jobs in private factories, joint ventures, industries, public private partnerships, etc, for locals.
The state Assembly on Tuesday passed the Andhra Pradesh Employment of Local Candidates in Industries/Factories Act, 2019, under which private jobs across the market will be reserved for local Andhra people.
The state Assembly passed the Bill after holding a debate on it on Monday. The bill is said to be one of the main Bills out of the six introduced in the House during the ongoing Budget Session. An election promise of the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP), the move has been received well within the state as it is expected to check the migration of youth in search of jobs.
The state is also going ahead with 50 per cent jobs for economically weaker sections in government jobs, trusts, and agricultural markets. Besides Andhra Pradesh has also moved a Bill to secure 50 per cent reservation for women in government services and contracts. The Andhra Assembly has also approved the setting up of a permanent BC Commission in the state.
The state cabinet has approved these draft Bills which would easily be passed by the state Assembly where the YSRCP has a brute majority—holding all seats but 23 out of 175. The move has been widely hailed with the exception of some reservation on the ground that the state may not find enough local talent, especially in the highly skilled sectors like information technology (IT).
During his statewide Prajasankalp Padyatra before the 2019 state Assembly and Lok Sabha elections, Chief Minister Jaggan Mohan Reddy had promised to create jobs for locals.
“The proposed Bill will ensure employment to 75 per cent of the local candidates in industries/factories, joint ventures and projects taken up under the PPP mode,” a government notification said.
The Jagan Mohan Reddy-led YSRCP government has introduced 6 bills pertaining to the above reservations that have been passed. The opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP)-led by former chief minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has been demanding a debate in the House over the scrapping of the Amravati Project and the withdrawal of financial support by the World Bank, leaving the fate of thousands in limbo.
YSRCP MLA K Parathasaradhi said that the law would now require private companies to train locals if people with suitable skills are not available.
“This will help the person who has lost their lands and their occupations for facilitating the establishment of industries and other unemployed youth by ensuring that their livelihoods are guaranteed and sustained,” he said.
Meanwhile, three TDP MLAs were today expelled from the House for obstructing the business, including the debate on these Bills. They were demanding a response from the government on the scrapping of the Amaravati Capital Project. The three, K Atchannaidu, Gorantla Butchaiah Chowdary, and Nimmala Ramanaidu, who are deputy leaders of TDP in the assembly, have been suspended from the House for the rest of the Budget session.
