BJP to start facilitation centres for blue-collar workers

MUMBAI: In an attempt to woo the blue-collar workers such as plumbers and electricians, the BJP in Maharashtra is planning to set up facilitation centres to help them find employment.

BJP leader and state revenue minister Eknath Khadse said these centres will also help them get financial assistance from the Mudra Bank to start up own business.

A decision in this regard was taken at a BJP meeting here today in the presence of Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Thavar Chand Gehlot, he said.

"The party has asked every worker to approach the working class and inform them about the funding under Mudra. We are going to set up a centre in each ward of municipal corporations and councils in the state," Khadse said.

"These are the people who do not get good jobs because of weak educational qualification. They don't have enough money to start their own business. The Mudra Bank will help them," he said, denying that BJP wanted to make a political capital out of the scheme.

"Anyone can approach for funding (from Mudra Bank) irrespective of political affiliation....we believe a good scheme should reach the people," he said.

Employment facilitation centres run by a political party is not a new concept in the city. BJP's ally Shiv Sena, in its formative years, had started `Sthaniya Lokadhikar Samiti' which lobbied for jobs for the `sons of soil' in banking, insurance, Railways, etc., and also offered training to the youths. However, the Sena's target was the educated unemployed youth.