Congress takes a dig at BJP on industrial landscape of Assam

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The AICC (All India Congress Committee) spokesperson Professor Gourav Vallabh on Tuesday underlined that no Special Economic Zones have been set-up in the last 5 years in Assam either for industries or the services sector.

Addressing the media here on Tuesday, Vallabh highlighted the industrial/employment landscape of the State under the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) regime.

"Currently, growth of industry and services that account for 83 per cent of the Gross State Domestic Product has been falling. Industry that was growing at 9.3 per cent in 2016 has fallen to 5.6 per cent in 2018-19. Growth of Services sector has slowed to 7.3 per cent. Agriculture that still employs close to 70 per cent of the workforce has been on a stagnant growth path at 2.8 per cent," said Vallab.

Further, he underlined that during 2019, Assam accounted for only 0.73 per cent of the large industrial units established in the country.

"Assam has very few BPOs as compared to some of the other States. Focus on IT is the key and the State can also benefit from setting up of IT parks. There has to be a lot of efforts made to promote entrepreneurship in Assam. Assam's rank in Business Reform Action Plan Results 2019 is 20th out of all Indian States and Union Territories," he added. Vallabh stressed that the Congress believes in positive politics and politics of change. He exhorted to the people that the party's promises are not just seasonal, like the 'Chunaavi Janta Party'.

The AICC spokesperson said that through a robust roadmap and resolute efforts, the Congress is dedicated to provide 5 lakh government jobs to the youths of Assam and create private employment opportunities for 25 lakh youths. "Creating employment opportunities through setting up of SEZ /IT parks, bringing in major IT/ITes companies, improving ease of doing business and hand-holding the youth for skill development is going to be our top priority," the AICC spokesperson added.

He added that the Congress, through its 5 Guarantee Programme, is committed to take Assam on a growth path that will eventually become a role-model for other States.

"The Congress' ongoing endeavor, through its Online Job Guarantee Registration Programme, which is a part of the Congressor 5 Guarantee campaign, has touched a landmark number, with a formal registration count of, over 1 lakh applications. Through this programme, unemployed youths of the State can register for Guaranteed Government Employment on the Party's website-www.congressor5guarantee.in. The Congress Party is certain that this attestation of the people's strong belief, in the party's vision of prosperity will bear positive results for the Congress, in the upcoming Assembly elections," Vallabh opined.

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