Porvorim (Goa): Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar today told the House that the State government would be adopting ‘affirmative approach’ to encourage industries employ locals.

“There can be two kind of approach to such an issue. One is reservation and second is affirmative. We have decided to adopt affirmative approach,” Parrikar told the State Legislative Assembly during his address on demands for grants.

Parrikar was referring to the demand by opposition and ruling benches to make certain percentage of employment mandatory in the industries which come up in the State.

He said state government can design the policy wherein subsidy and benefits would be given depending on the number of Goans employed in the industry.

BJP’s alliance partner, Goa Forward Party was quick enough to welcome the announcement by the chief minister. “Goa Forward Party welcomes Manohar Parrikar statement on positive discrimination employment policy to favour Goemkar (Goan) youth in the industries,” party president and state minister Vijai Sardesai tweeted.

Responding to yet another issue, Parrikar attributed the current price rise in Tomatoes to “rains and traffic bottlenecks”. “There is rise in prices of Tomatoes because of rains and traffic bottlenecks. The Tomatoes are getting rotten in the villages where they are produced,” he said.