Global companies like Infosys and Foxconn are facing criticism in Karnataka for allegedly failing to provide employment opportunities to locals, particularly farmers who relinquished their land for the establishment of these enterprises.
During a session in the Karnataka assembly on Tuesday, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA and Deputy Leader of the Opposition, Arvind Bellad, lambasted IT behemoth Infosys for purportedly not generating any employment in his constituency, Hubbali-Dharwad West.
Bellad demanded the withdrawal of land allocated to Infosys, claiming that despite acquiring 58 acres of land, the company had not created a single job opportunity. He emphasised that while Infosys had developed the campus in 2018 with a capacity to accommodate 1,400 employees, actual recruitment for a few positions was announced only in August 2022.
“In my constituency, there is an industrial estate, Infosys has taken land. They have taken 58 acres, but have not given a single job. They have just planted trees and made gardens. Take back the land from them. They talk about ethics, but they have not created jobs,” said Bellad.
He further highlighted that the government gave land to Infosys at Rs 35 lakh/acre when the market price was Rs 1.5 crore. He said that he had requested the farmers to part with the land, saying a big company like Infosys would create hundreds of jobs.
Echoing similar sentiments, Dheeraj Muniraju, BJP MLA representing Doddaballapur constituency, criticised Foxconn, the manufacturer of Apple iPhones, and Jubilant Food Works for allegedly neglecting to hire locals and farmers who lost their land due to their projects.
Muniraju expressed dissatisfaction over Foxconn's recruitment practices, accusing the company of not offering jobs to landowners and instead sending recruits to Chennai for training.
“You have given land to Foxconn, they haven’t given jobs to any farmer who lost his land. Even Jubilant FoodWorks… They have not hired a single local person. Foxconn has started hiring and they are sending the recruits to Chennai for training,” he argued.
Industries and Commerce Minister MB Patil assured the assembly that the government would take action against companies that failed to provide employment to locals who had lost their land, especially after receiving incentives.
He highlighted that companies receiving subsidies or incentives would be scrutinised, and measures could be taken, including revoking incentives or reclaiming land, if they failed to fulfil their commitments.
Patil also clarified that Foxconn was allotted 300 acres of land at a subsidised rate with the expectation of creating 50,000 jobs and manufacturing 20 million iPhones. He reiterated the government's commitment to ensuring job opportunities for farmers who had surrendered their land.
In a separate move, the government swiftly introduced a legal amendment requiring a minimum of 60% usage of Kannada language in signboards at commercial establishments, entertainment venues, and road layouts. Additionally, products manufactured within the state are mandated to include information in Kannada as well, further reinforcing the government's emphasis on promoting the regional language.