India: Unemployment rate down by 40pc in Bengal

Kolkata, Nov 22 (PTI) West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday said the rate of unemployment had come down by 40 per cent in the state, due to various developmental schemes.

Speaking in the Assembly House, Banerjee said there are 300 ITIs and polytechnics, and the state government has undertaken the 'Utkarsh Bangla' project, which aims to skill six lakh people every year.

She said with better implementation of the MNREGA and other similar schemes, "unemployment rate has reduced by 40 per cent".

Banerjee also told her party members to maintain good coordination among departments, and not assure anything to people that is beyond their domain.

Meanwhile, Technical Education Minister Purnendu Bose said 1.5 lakh students have already enrolled under the project, and 400 training institutes will impart training to them.

Finance Minister Amit Mitra said the aim is to encourage trainees to become entrepreneurs instead of job seekers.

Bose added the state government will provide tiffin to encourage poor students, and relax the daily minimum hour of training to make the courses flexbile and attractive.