Bhubaneswar: The Congress on Tuesday forced several adjournments in the Assembly over prevailing unemployment problem resulting in migration to other states, even as the chief minister launched five pro-labour initiatives on the International Labour Day.

Infuriated over rejection of their adjournment notice for discussion on the unemployment problem in the House, Congress members trooped into the well shouting slogans against the government and disrupted the proceedings. BJP members also joined the protest over the alleged failure of the state government to tackle the prevailing drought situation and assist the distressed farmers. The Opposition members were aggrieved as the ongoing budget session came to an abrupt end without discussing these two burning issues.

Leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra said the Opposition had given a notice to adjourn the business of the House and take up discussion on the acute unemployment problem. However, it was rejected. "That's why we protested," said Mishra.

Criticising the government for its failure to solve the growing unemployment problem, Mishra said: "The BJD had promised in its election manifesto to create lakhs of jobs for the youth. But it has failed to fulfil its promise. Rather, government posts are lying vacant in lakhs. Lack of employment in the state has forced the people to migrate to other states in search of employment."

On the other hand, chief minister Naveen Patnaik launched Shramik Sarathi programme for migrant labourers on Tuesday. As part of this programme, Migrant Workers Support and Resource Centres were inaugurated at Kantabanji in Balangir district, Padmapur in Bargarh district and Balugaon in Khurda district. These centres will disseminate information on safe migration, counselling in case of distress and redress the grievances of the migrant workers.

"Our efforts are on to check the migrant labour problem. Labour migration has come down in the last two years," said Naveen while launching the programme.

Similarly, launching a 45-day awareness campaign against the practice of child labour, Naveen said: "The state government has taken up several programmes for abolition of child labour. More than 200 seasonal hostels have been opened for the children of the workers and more than 9,000 children were studying in the residential schools."

Naveen also inaugurated "Shuna Sharmika" (listen to the labourers), a community radio programme, to disseminate information and spread awareness about the pro-labour policies and schemes of the state .

He also dedicated to the workers a public service rights portal for those in construction and a website -www.nirmanshramik.com.

In another development, Speaker Pradip Kumar Amat on Tuesday indefinitely adjourned the budget session of the Assembly, four days ahead of the schedule.