Preference to TN youth in Central govt jobs in state: Pon Radhakrishna

Chennai: With the opposition parties raising the issue of 'dismally' low representation for the youth from TN in the Central government jobs in the State, Union Minister of State for Finance and Shipping Pon Radhakrishnan who went on the defensive said the Centre was giving first preference to youth belonging to the State.

 “When it comes to providing employment in Central government departments or public sector undertakings (PSUs), the Centre is according first preference to the youth belonging to State,” Mr. Radhakrishnan said on Tuesday.

Speaking to reporters at the airport here he said some vested interest persons were spreading canard that the youth from the State were being ignored during the recruitment drive in Central government departments in the State. “This is not true. Don’t believe such rumours,” the Minister urged.

On Monday DMK president M.K. Stalin accused the BJP-led Central government of leasing out all central government jobs in Tamil Nadu to north Indians. At a time when over 80 lakh people in Tamil Nadu have registered with the employment exchange, all the central government jobs and those in the PSUs were being given to the north Indians, he alleged. In the apprenticeship examination held by Golden Rock Railway Workshop in Trichy, about 300 persons from North India have been appointed on the grounds that none of the Tamil Nadu candidates cleared the exams, he claimed.

 Speaking in similar vein, MDMK chief Vaiko told reporters at the airport here that the BJP-led government at the Centre dealt a severe blow to the people of Tamil Nadu on the employment front by denying the rights due for them. “Its ally, the AIADMK government, here, has neither taken steps to protect the livelihood opportunities of the people nor attempted to ensure employment to the youth in the State in Central government departments,” Mr. Vaiko said.