Our state has reduced unemployment by 45 per cent: Mamata Banerjee

The Asian Age.

Metros, Kolkata

She also appealed to the young generation to question the Narendra Modi government on unemployment.

Mamata Banerjee

Kolkata: Chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday claimed that her government has reduced unemployment rate by 45 per cent in the state while taking the state to top position in the country in GDP growth.

She also appealed to the young generation to question the Narendra Modi government on unemployment.

The Trinamul Congress supremo tweeted, “Today is International #YouthDay. In #Bangla, we celebrate Youth Day on January 12, Swami Vivekananda’s birth anniversary. I appeal to the youth, the students & the new generation: be strong and ask for answers. There is no answer to unemployment problems.”

Boasting of her government’s feat she added, “Our State #Bangla has brought down unemployment by 45%. The GDP growth of #Bangla is highest in the country. My support is always with the youth, students and the new generation. May you be inspired to reach new heights.”

Earlier Ms Banerjee posted on Facebook, “West Bengal achieves No 1 position in the country in growth rate. As per reports of Govt of India, growth rate of West Bengal for the financial year 2018-19 is 12.58%, the highest in India. My heartiest congratulations to all.”

She elaborated, “Our achievement is in sharp contrast to the state of deep recession and complete policy paralysis perpetrated by Central government leading to significant decline of overall growth rate of the country and highest unemployment in 45 years. GDP growth of the country has fallen to 5.8% in Q4 of 2018-19, the lowest growth rate in the last 5 years, between 2014-15 and 2018-19.”

The Trinamul chief observed, “Industrial Output Growth was 2% in June 2019, which was 7% in June 2018. Growth during April, May & June, 2019 was 3.6% against 5.1% in the previous year. Index of Industrial Production was 1.2% in June 2019 compared to 6.9% in June 2018."

She mentioned, “Capital Goods Sector Growth was (-)6.5% in June 2019 compared to 9.7% in June 2018. Manufacturing grew by 1.2% in June 2019 against 6.9% in June 2018. Mining grew by 1.6% in June 2019 against 6.5% in June 2018. As stated earlier, the unemployment rate is highest in 45 years, 6.1% in 2018-2019."

Lashing out at the Centre, Ms Banerjee alleged, “Moreover, the Central government is actively pursuing disinvestment of government assets, from Ordnance Factory Board to BSNL, from Air India to Railways, from Chittaranjan Locomotive Works to Alloy Steel Plant, Durgapur and about 45 more public sector undertakings.”

She said, “Very recently, the automobile and leather sectors are witnessing over 3 lakh job losses. The government came to power with the agenda of creating more employment opportunities. What we are seeing now is that those who are in employment are losing their jobs.”

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