The Education and IT minister of Andhra Pradesh Nara Lokesh has joined the list of major political leaders who are strictly against the policy of reserving jobs in the private sector calling it a wrong approach for India. Responding to the recent proposal given by the Karnataka government which aims to provide at least 70 to 75 per cent of jobs in each private company to the state residents Lokesh spoke to CNN-News18.
“I strongly opine that such a policy will not work,” Lokesh said amid explaining that, according to him, Andhra Pradesh’s competitive edge is in offering talent. In some sectors of the state economy, he noted, there is strength: for instance, electronics manufacturing But, he added, there are some important types of managerial expertise where the state remains deficient and is forced to seek it elsewhere.
Lokesh further said that concept of job quotas in any form is likely to restrict industry growth. Investors use our government and talent in Andhra Pradesh and they come here. Reservation in the private sector is not something that can help our nation,’ he said.
The Karnataka proposal, which required 75% reservation of local residents in non-management positions/ 50% in managerial positions, met massive criticism from business moguls and was withdrawn. In the middle of this debate, Lokesh invited the software industry to Visakhapatnam and asked Nasscom to take a closer look at moving up or shifting their company to the city destined to become the IT, AI, and data center capital of India.
In particular, Lokesh referred to the job issue, adding that people in India should start admiring industries and the people behind the industries rather than money. He referred them to Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, saying that he was showing the right direction for job creation and added, “Our single agenda is job creation and it is very loud and clear.”
Conclusively, Nara Lokesh is opposed to continued use of reservation policies in relation to employment in private sector organizations, talent management approach which he is confident will be rewarding to both economy and unemployment seekers in Andhra Pradesh.
