Rajasthan can generate 22 lakh additional jobs: Assocham

 

Rajasthan can generate an additional 22 lakh employment opportunities in both organised and unorganised sector if the state's economy is able to sustain over eight per cent growth rate during next five years, industry body Assocham said today. 

"Rajasthan is has registered significant growth economic growth rate and can generate around 20 lakh jobs in organised and unorganised sectors, as well as 2 lakh direct and indirect job opportunities through oil refinery," chamber's Secretary General D S Rawat told PTI. 

He said that Assocham suggested a seven point detailed 'Action-Agenda for New Government of Rajasthan' to chief minister Vasundhara Raje recently and the projection was based upon the simple regression model according to which the assumption of employment generation is largely dependent on economic growth which has immediate effect on job creation. 

The boyd has also proposed to partner the state government to implement and achieve the objective of its vision document for Rajasthan. 

"Rajasthan has registered robust economic growth rate of 8.2 per cent slightly higher than the national average of 8 per cent during 2004-05 and 2012-13," says a study prepared by the Assocham Economic Research Bureau (AERB). 

There has been a significant decline of almost six per cent in the contribution of agriculture sector to the gross state domestic product (GSDP) of Rajasthan which fell from 25 per cent in 2004-05 to 19 per cent in 2012-13, it said. 

"Frequent droughts, rapidly depleting groundwater level, lack of investments and absence of modernisation in agriculture practices are certain key issues hindering the growth of agriculture in Rajasthan." 

The apex industry body suggested that the new state government should promote the agriculture sector and maximize farm income by a co-ordinated approach focusing on best utilisation of available water with higher productivity, crop diversification, value addition together with strong emphasis on livestock development. 

Rajasthan has recorded a surge in the share of industrial sector in the GSDP which increased from 30.5 per cent in 2004-05 to 31.3 per cent in 2012-13 thereby indicating the strong pace of industrialisation in the state. 

In its vision document, Assocham has suggested the state government to ensure sustainable development of marginal, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to further increase the industrial growth, create more jobs and improve industries' share in the GSDP. 

To further perk up the industrial sector in Rajasthan, Assocham has recommended the government to prepare a state- level master plan for industrial promotion, separate master plan to develop areas coming under the purview of Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC); encourage women entrepreneurs in micro and cottage industry; lure industries to invest in backward areas by offering incentives among others. 

Considering that Rajasthan is blessed with rich mineral reserves, ASSOCHAM has suggested the state to lure investments from mineral based industries as that would create jobs in the rural areas and the government should also keep a check on unauthorised mining. 

Besides, Rajasthan government should also promote non-farm industries like handicrafts and cottage industries and set up industrial complexes for auto ancillary, ceramics, textiles and others to generate more employment, the Assocham note added. 

There is a need to further encourage private sector participation to boost infrastructure development across Rajasthan especially in construction of roads and highways, building houses for people from all categories and promotion of renewable energy sources, it said. 

Integrated tourism infrastructure development across Rajasthan on PPP basis, holding tourism fairs and widespread marketing activities in foreign countries to attract more foreign tourists, providing effective road-rail-air connectivity with all tourist hotspots, preservation of monuments and heritage buildings are key to growth of tourism sector in the state, it added. 

 

Promoting broadband connectivity and its use in education, healthcare, public safety and government operations, providing internet content in local language, provide support for developing information technology (IT) parks are imperative for growth and development of IT sector in the state. 

To further perk up the industrial sector in Rajasthan, Assocham has recommended the government to prepare a state- level master plan for industrial promotion, separate master plan to develop areas coming under the purview of Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC); encourage women entrepreneurs in micro and cottage industry; lure industries to invest in backward areas by offering incentives among others. 

Considering that Rajasthan is blessed with rich mineral reserves, ASSOCHAM has suggested the state to lure investments from mineral based industries as that would create jobs in the rural areas and the government should also keep a check on unauthorised mining. 

Besides, Rajasthan government should also promote non-farm industries like handicrafts and cottage industries and set up industrial complexes for auto ancillary, ceramics, textiles and others to generate more employment, the Assocham note added. 

There is a need to further encourage private sector participation to boost infrastructure development across Rajasthan especially in construction of roads and highways, building houses for people from all categories and promotion of renewable energy sources, it said. 

Integrated tourism infrastructure development across Rajasthan on PPP basis, holding tourism fairs and widespread marketing activities in foreign countries to attract more foreign tourists, providing effective road-rail-air connectivity with all tourist hotspots, preservation of monuments and heritage buildings are key to growth of tourism sector in the state, it added. 

Promoting broadband connectivity and its use in education, healthcare, public safety and government operations, providing internet content in local language, provide support for developing information technology (IT) parks are imperative for growth and development of IT sector in the state.