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Reservation in private sector be voluntary

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CIOL Bureau
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CHENNAI: Industry leaders Friday said that

reservation for

jobs
in the private sector should be voluntary and not imposed, as such a

move by the Government would only prove

“counter

productive.







Addressing the media after releasing the JJ Irani Committee Report on
Affirmative Action, CII President, R Seshasayee said that the industry was

willing to take for greater inclusiveness of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled

Tribes.






Job reservation
by industry
cannot be the complete solution; However, the industry is

playing its role in the uplift of

SCs and STs,”

he said adding that CII and Assocham had prepared the report -- Proposed

Concrete Steps by Indian Industry on Affirmative Action for SCs/STs -- keeping

in mind that the industry played its part while furthering its competitiveness

and not eroding it.






The report stated: "The private sector industry is
against any

legislation
that would compromise the sanctity of its non-negotiable freedom

of choice in employment".






Outlining the proposals in the report, JJ Irani said the industry would endeavor
to reflect greater representation of SCs and STs in new recruitments at all

levels and "expects its efforts to become visible within next year".






According to the report, besides adopting a code of conduct, the industry will
create 100 entrepreneurs from SCs/STs in the first year. It also proposes

establishment of coaching centers for about 10,000 SC/ST students in 10

universities and also for entrance exams in professional and technical courses

for 5,000 students.






"The report is not to pre-empt any legislation. It is to sharpen our focus on
efforts for social uplift of SCs and STs,” Irani said on whether the Prime

Minister Manmohan Singh's comments when it was presented to him last Wednesday

at Delhi.






Assocham President Anil K Agarwal said: “The Prime Minister while appreciating
the fact that the industry had to maintain its competitiveness had also stated

that it would also have to take part in the effort towards an all inclusive

growth of the country.”






Bharti Group chief Sunil Bharti Mittal, who also addressed the media, said that
the industry would seek the reaction from the Government on the report in the

next few days.






"They have appreciated the fact that the industry does feel accountable," Mittal
added.






Amongst other things that the report proposed, about 50 scholarships (out of a
total of 100 proposed) would be established in the first year for SC and ST

students studying in institutes like IITs and IIMs and another five scholarships

for studies overseas.






While stating that the proposed programmes in the report would not cover 'creamy
layer' of SCs and STs, it said CII and Assocham would immediately set up

individual councils to promote, coordinate and oversee industry action for the

proposed Concrete Steps.






Seshasayee, however, said the industry body could not mandate the behavior of
individual members although it would persuade them to take affirmative action on

the proposals.






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