Bhubaneswar, Aug. 29: The scope of employment in the state has come down despite the BJD-run government's claim of achieving an inclusive growth higher than the anticipated national growth rate.

The state government expected the state's economy to grow at 8.78 per cent during the current financial year.

Ironically, despite the growth, job opportunities, both in the government as well as in the organised sectors, have come down during the last six years of Naveen Patnaik's regime.

With the shrinkage of employment opportunities, the state government has organised the Niyukti Mela under the Employment Mission. So far, 10.95 lakh youths have registered themselves in different employment exchanges of the state. Out of them, 10.42 lakh are educated.

Replying to a question, the state employment and technical minister, Sanjay Kumar Das Burma said: "From 2008 till the current year, 95 recruitment melas have been organised. Around 70, 260 youths got employment in different categories."

Of the total employment provided to the people in various sectors, nearly 13,927 have been employed in the IT sector only.

Madhulita Pradhan, 34, an unemployed youth said: "There is no need to register one's name in the employment exchange as the scope of getting employment has come down considerably. It is frustrating to enroll one's name and waiting endlessly for a call from the employment exchange."

Government officials said the state government has launched the Chief Minister Employment Generation Scheme to give a boost to the recruitment drive. "Under the scheme, around 11 lakh youths, both in the rural and urban areas would be given employment in five years," said an official.

These 11 lakh youths will be provided either direct or indirect employment besides self-employment opportunity during the period, the official said. He also said that at least 150 youths from each gram panchayat would be imparted skill development training to make them self-reliant.

The official further said the state government was planning to tie up with the National Skill Development Agency (NSDA) to enhance the employability of the youths. Various models of the NSDA would be adopted and extensive training programmes would be organised for the youths in the near future.

"The employment agencies empanelled with the NSDA will be roped in the state," the officials said claiming that all these measures would resolve the unemployment problem.