Washington: American lawmaker and officials have allayed India's apprehensions over curbs on outsourcing of jobs from US to India as also on issuance of visas to its professionals.

A delegation of Indo-US Parliamentary Forum was assured by Congress members and officials that any damage to India from restrictions on outsourcing sought to be imposed by half a dozen stats will be limited.

The assurance, given to the Forum's co-chairmen Kapil Sibal and V P S Badnore, come on the backdrop of reports that several states will press ahead with laws to ban outsourcing of jobs especially in the Information Technology sector because of unemployment and discontent at home.

Private companies are governed by Federal laws, where legislators will take into account US economic interests and the views of US business and industry.

New Jersey State was the first to make moves against outsourcing, but it is yet to have a full debate on the issue in the state senate.

It is felt that reports on curbs on the H-1B and L-1 visas which benefited Indian professionals is overblown, as the US economy is weak now and jobs are scarce.

PTI