“When industry does not generate income, it should create jobs” | India News
In his first comments after SC reversed the suspension that HC had granted on the state’s 75% home quota in the private sector, Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar strongly justified it by saying that the law has been carefully drafted so that the industry is not impacted and at the same time the inhabitants benefit from it. He spoke to TOI about the disputed law and other issues. Excerpts from the interview:
There has been industrialization in Haryana and young people from neighboring states expect to find employment. Additionally, some experts have called the new law regressive. Your comments.
First, the state has a responsibility to provide employment opportunities to its people more than any other agency. Secondly, there was a time when we used to invite industries and they became a source of revenue for the state. But since the GST was rolled out, the industry is no longer a primary source of revenue.
The GST has based its revenue on consumption. The industrial sector still wants concessions linked to land, tax advantages, cheap electricity. When the industry does not generate income, the only benefit is job creation. Within the 75% quota, a business owner can decide the worker’s qualifications, salary, or skills. It is their prerogative, not ours. On these prerogatives, if a Haryana domicile is not ready to work, you can also hire from outside. It’s quite simple. You are trying to employ 75% people, think of those applying from Haryana, if your quota is not met, just inform the Deputy Commissioner and hire from outside. We have also reduced the salary bracket from Rs. 50,000 to Rs. 30,000 per month. Only that wage bracket is covered by the settlement, not skilled workers who earn more than that.
The Haryana model could also be implemented in other states as we already see in Andhra Pradesh. So, has there been a dialogue between other chief ministers and you, on what exactly will be the ramifications of this law?
I had spoken to SC defenders. I congratulated them and thanked them for canceling the reprieve that had been placed by the HC. They told me that the expedited and easy provisions of our legislation are unmatched by the legislation of any other state. No one has difficulty adapting to our arrangements. This is why the CS gave its assertion. The case is still pending before the High Court. . .
Have you discussed the law with start-up entrepreneurs and business owners? >Of course. Several times. I had noted the same facts that I am pointing out to you. In the end, they agreed that the industry does not provide income, only jobs. If industries do not provide jobs, what use are they? We told them to build their offices here, offer their services here, open warehouses, but take industries away.
Your opponents say Haryana has the most unemployment according to CMIE figures.
I don’t believe in them. It is a private agency and they may have their own interests. But the reality on the ground is different. In December, their figure was
34. 1% and in January the figure was 24%. So are they saying that 10% of people in Haryana found a job within a month? We always say that there is 6-8% unemployment. And we also provide jobs for that 6-8%, on a rotational basis. Every month, 3-4 lakh people are added.
What has been your experience in running an alliance government?
This is not a problem. Everyone works according to the principles of their party, but we have not encountered great difficulties. My alliance experience in the past has been different. We have been the smallest partner, but this time we are the biggest partner. I fully understand the difficulties. Sometimes we have to explain or reason with our partners.
Your electoral performance was the reason you had to form an alliance. Have you regained enough public confidence to get the required seats next time?
We have also organized alliances at the Centre. At the time, the BJP was alone with the majority, but we still kept alliance partners. You see, the more opinions and ideas we have, the better it is for the country and society. We also say to the opposition, why always oppose blindly, we can work together too. During election season, we should see that lines are not crossed. Take Punjab, for example. Kejriwal has become so desperate that he associates with secessionists. Kumar Vishwas exposed it.
There has been industrialization in Haryana and young people from neighboring states expect to find employment. Additionally, some experts have called the new law regressive. Your comments.
First, the state has a responsibility to provide employment opportunities to its people more than any other agency. Secondly, there was a time when we used to invite industries and they became a source of revenue for the state. But since the GST was rolled out, the industry is no longer a primary source of revenue.
The GST has based its revenue on consumption. The industrial sector still wants concessions linked to land, tax advantages, cheap electricity. When the industry does not generate income, the only benefit is job creation. Within the 75% quota, a business owner can decide the worker’s qualifications, salary, or skills. It is their prerogative, not ours. On these prerogatives, if a Haryana domicile is not ready to work, you can also hire from outside. It’s quite simple. You are trying to employ 75% people, think of those applying from Haryana, if your quota is not met, just inform the Deputy Commissioner and hire from outside. We have also reduced the salary bracket from Rs. 50,000 to Rs. 30,000 per month. Only that wage bracket is covered by the settlement, not skilled workers who earn more than that.
The Haryana model could also be implemented in other states as we already see in Andhra Pradesh. So, has there been a dialogue between other chief ministers and you, on what exactly will be the ramifications of this law?
I had spoken to SC defenders. I congratulated them and thanked them for canceling the reprieve that had been placed by the HC. They told me that the expedited and easy provisions of our legislation are unmatched by the legislation of any other state. No one has difficulty adapting to our arrangements. This is why the CS gave its assertion. The case is still pending before the High Court. . .
Have you discussed the law with start-up entrepreneurs and business owners? >Of course. Several times. I had noted the same facts that I am pointing out to you. In the end, they agreed that the industry does not provide income, only jobs. If industries do not provide jobs, what use are they? We told them to build their offices here, offer their services here, open warehouses, but take industries away.
Your opponents say Haryana has the most unemployment according to CMIE figures.
I don’t believe in them. It is a private agency and they may have their own interests. But the reality on the ground is different. In December, their figure was
34. 1% and in January the figure was 24%. So are they saying that 10% of people in Haryana found a job within a month? We always say that there is 6-8% unemployment. And we also provide jobs for that 6-8%, on a rotational basis. Every month, 3-4 lakh people are added.
What has been your experience in running an alliance government?
This is not a problem. Everyone works according to the principles of their party, but we have not encountered great difficulties. My alliance experience in the past has been different. We have been the smallest partner, but this time we are the biggest partner. I fully understand the difficulties. Sometimes we have to explain or reason with our partners.
Your electoral performance was the reason you had to form an alliance. Have you regained enough public confidence to get the required seats next time?
We have also organized alliances at the Centre. At the time, the BJP was alone with the majority, but we still kept alliance partners. You see, the more opinions and ideas we have, the better it is for the country and society. We also say to the opposition, why always oppose blindly, we can work together too. During election season, we should see that lines are not crossed. Take Punjab, for example. Kejriwal has become so desperate that he associates with secessionists. Kumar Vishwas exposed it.