Mamata Banerjee on Thursday said she aspired to make Bengal “Number One” in the country in the creation of jobs over the next four-five years.

The chief minister has set the target amid Opposition’s allegations of joblessness in the state in the absence of large-scale manufacturing sector investment. Under pressure over employment generation after 11 years in power, she has repeatedly been talking about how the government prioritises it, and how it has been playing matchmaker between job-seekers and employers.

Mamata, speaking at a state government event in West Midnapore’s Kharagpur in the afternoon, said: “Employment generation is my main goal, as of now.” “My aspiration is to make Bengal Number One, in terms of job-creation, in the next four to five years,” added the Trinamul Congress chief at the event for distribution of certificates and offer letters to those who successfully completed the state government’s Utkarsh Bangla programme for skill development.

“Our skill department facilitates the recruitment process and this innovative solution resulted in improved skill-training in Bengal. Nine out of 21 toppers in the national skill examination were from Bengal. We are Number One in skill training…. Around 400 polytechnics and ITIs were set up in Bengal since we came to power. Our government has created a platform for matchmaking (between employers and job-seekers).”

She said another Utkarsh Bangla programme would be held in Siliguri for those from north Bengal. The programmes for Birbhum, Murshidabad, and Malda would be conducted virtually within a few days.The government’s attempt to distribute offer letters to those completing the Utkarsha Bangla programme has recently come under the scanner following complaints that the companies refused to acknowledge the letters that were given to the youths.

Both the CPM and the BJP are trying to make it a political issue.

“Some people say they are unable to see the jobs generated here…. The BJP and the CPM are creating disturbance every day, in places like Deocha-Pachami.“The fact of the matter is, today you will find everything in Bengal…. Our people should also innovate and generate self-employment,” she added.

At the event, in the presence of Tata Steel vice-president Sanjiv Paul and other seniors from the Tata group, she inaugurated a new unit of Tata Metaliks in Kharagpur, underscoring the investment of Rs 600 crore in the unit and the 1,000 jobs it would generate.Yet again, Mamata claimed while there had been a 45 per cent decrease in employment in India, it had risen in Bengal by 40 per cent.

The state’s Opposition has repeatedly contested Mamata’s claims on unemployment reduction.

“She has been talking about the employment generation a lot more than she ever has since the campaign for the Assembly elections last year. She has been talking about it even more, and in greater detail, over the past few months…. She is aware this is one sore spot for us, an Achilles’ Heel, and the BJP and the CPM have been intensifying attacks against us over this,” said a Trinamul MP.

“She has also been blaming the Opposition for being overly litigious, in the name of unearthing alleged corruption, stalling many of our government’s recruitment endeavours,” he added.

“The fact, however, remains that we have precious little to show for ourselves in terms of employment generation, even after a year into our third consecutive stint in power.”

At the event, Mamata reiterated her plans to appoint 89,000 teachers soon, in addition to the 2.63 lakh teaching and non-teaching staff members who had already been appointed. She also brought up the employment potential of the Deocha-Pachami coal mine project, a piped gas project in Asansol, the Dankuni-Amritsar industrial corridor, the work on the Tajpur deep-sea port, and the 2.5 lakh people employed in the leather industry.

Mamata went on to suggest starting small, with Rs 1,000 as initial investment, selling tea, biscuits, ghugni (a curry snack made of peas or chickpeas), and teley bhaja (fritters), this Durga Puja — something the Opposition has mocked her over in the past.“I ask them not to engage in politics of hatred and jealousy. Compete with me in what work you can do for Bengal. Don’t run after bombs and guns for politics. Focus on creating more opportunities,” she said.