NAGROTA: Provincial President National Conference and MLA Nagrota, Devender Singh Rana on Saturday sought adequate openings in terms of earning livelihood by skilled and unskilled work-force of the Nagrota Assembly Constituency in the upcoming Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) in Jagti area.
“Residents of Nagrota Constituency are the primary stake-holders who needed to be given preference as a matter of principle as also standing norms of the Government of India and the Jammu and Kashmir Government”, Rana told a team of the IIT during detailed interaction this afternoon.
The team comprised, Prof S.K Koul from IIT Delhi, who is Project Incharge IIT, Jammu, Prof S.N Singh from IIT Delhi, functioning as the Operation Incharge IIT, Jammu, N.K Bansal, Superintending Engineer, CPWD and A.K Singh, Executive Engineer CPWD.
The MLA Nagrota assured the cooperation of the people in setting up of such a prestigious institute in the area and hoped that the management of the IIT would also reciprocate this sentiment by giving preference to the local labour force and construction workers besides marginal contractors.
The establishment of the IIT, he said had rekindled hope among the work force to earn their livelihood during the course of its construction but so far very little has been done by the executing agency.
“The work force of the constituency is hardworking and talented and therefore utlilizing their services would be beneficial for the management”, he added.
Rana also urged the team to consider engagement of deserving candidates from the constituency for various positions like guards,
watchmen, drivers and supervisors, as the IIT is presently in the construction stage. He referred to the standing norms and the policy of the Jammu and Kashmir Government which envisages 90 per cent jobs like watchmen, guards, drivers, peons, office boys and equal share in the office staff including those of accounts sections to the locals.
Similarly, 70 per cent qualified staff like engineers/and MBAs, 70 per cent non-technocrat staff, 60 per cent graduates, engineering, diploma holders, chemists besides ITI pass outs; , 40 per cent skilled operators, 50 per cent semi- skilled operators and 55% unskilled workers were to be taken from the area where such facilities are coming up, he added.
The Provincial President hoped that the IIT management would emulate the mechanism of National Highway Authority of India, Railways and CPWD which provided ample jobs to locals during the construction of NH1, railway tracks and related facilities and Chenani-Nashri Tunnel Projects. On the same analogy, he sought opportunities of livelihood for the locals of Nagrota Assembly Constituency in the mega IIT project, adding that this will generate a sense of belonging among the locals of the constituency and give impetus to the local economy.
Rana also stressed the need for eco-friendly construction, saying necessary checks and balances should be maintained to ensure ecological balance around the construction area and its peripheries.