Jogi pipedream: Jobs for all educated

‘‘This is the first time that a state government has offered 100 per cent job guarantee. All eligible youths can now get themselves registered, either at employment exchanges, Block Development Offices or tehsils till November 2003. The government will work out a plan for their placement depending on their qualification. It could be a self-employment scheme or jobs in the public or private sector in the next three years,’’ the CM said.

Jogi has already introduced an award scheme for entrepreneurs providing maximum number of jobs to youths. The ‘‘Rajiv Gandhi Niyokta Samman’’ will fetch Rs 5 lakh for the entrepreneur.

Apart from unemployed youths, the CM is also paying undivided attention to his tribal subjects. He announced two special packages for Bastar and Sarguja districts recently, which constitute 70 per cent of the state’s tribal population. Two new universities have been opened at Jagdalpur and Ambikapur, the district headquarters of Bastar and Sarguja respectively. Further, Jogi has made it a point to be in the tribal belt at least twice a week.

Jogi’s tribal-friendly measures has prompted the BJP to come out with a counter strategy. Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee has finally given his nod to visit Bastar on September 7, while his deputy L.K Advani is expected to address a tribal sammelan at Jaspur next month. Last week, over 23 Pahari Korba tribals had died in Jaspur due to an outbreak of cholera.

Union Agriculture Minister Rajnath Singh and BJP president Venkaiah Naidu will also tour Chhattisgarh in September and address ‘‘kisan sammelans’’.