SEZs to be set up in border areas

Staff Reporter

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Kannadigas will be offered jobs
Local residents will get preference
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Katta Subramanya Naidu

BANGALORE: The Government is planning to set up special economic zones
(SEZs) in the border areas, particularly in North Karnataka, to foster
economic and industrial development, Industries Minister Katta
Subramanya Naidu has said.

He told presspersons here on Tuesday that the chronically backward
districts of Bidar, Gulbarga, Raichur, and Karwar in Uttara Kannada
district, apart from KGF and Chitradurga had been identified for setting
up the SEZs.

The Minister said that the report of the Kannada Gadi Jagruthi Jatha on
integrated development of border areas had made several recommendations,
and he had already made a commitment to implement the suggestions
relating to industrial development.

Mr. Subramanya Naidu reiterated the Government's stand that it would
ensure that the SEZs would ensure jobs for Kannadigas and give
preference to local residents during recruitment.

At present, all sectors barring Information Technology and Biotechnology
were going by the recommendations of the Sarojini Mahishi Committee
report on jobs for locals.

The Government was in the process of acquiring the details of
implementation of the Sarojini Mahishi report recommendations in the
public sector and IT-BT sectors.

The recommendations of the committee had been implemented more
effectively in the small and medium scale industries, Mr. Subramanya
Naidu said.

Name boards

The Government would shortly issue a circular making it mandatory for
traders and commercial establishments to display name boards and other
information in Kannada, Mr. Subramanya Naidu.

Government and quasi-Government institutions would have to hoist the
Karnataka flag during Rajyotsava, he added

http://www.hindu.com/2007/01/17/stories/2007011707770500.htm