Reservation in pvt sector to go to Cabinet
Despite the raging controversy over OBC reservations, the government has not given up on the idea of reservation in private sector telling the industry that "time is running out" for it to act voluntarily.
By PTI |
NEW DELHI: Despite the raging controversy over OBC reservations, the government has not given up on the idea of reservation in private sector telling the industry that "time is running out" for it to act voluntarily.
Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Meira Kumar says she plans to go to the Cabinet with the report of the Group of Ministers on the issue "at the earliest" as the reservation "has to be done and done fast". In an interview to the media, she, however, declined to hazard any guess on whether the government would act in the matter before the monsoon session of Parliament commencing next month or before the next round of assembly polls including in Uttar Pradesh scheduled early next year.
"There is a lot of pressure on me. I am working under great pressure but I want it to be done, done amicably and without any type of confrontation. Time is running out", Kumar said dismissing suggestions that the issue has been kept on the backburner in the wake of the OBC quota row.
Asked if she is referring to bringing legislation in this regard, Kumar said "I am not talking about legislation. I am telling the industrial and business houses how to do it.... "If they will not do it, then the matter is before the Cabinet and it will decide", she said admitting at the same time that the "reluctance on the part of the industry is petering down and its position has "softened".
Rejecting suggestions that the matter has taken a backseat in the wake of OBC quota row and also due to lack of consensus with industry on the issue, the Minister said "our next step is that there has to be a collective decision on it".
Kumar sought to emphasise that there has been unanimity among all political parties on the issue of reservation in private sector. Discussions in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya had witnessed all round support on the matter. Telling the industry and business that she does not have much time, Kumar reminded them that there was affirmative action in 20 odd countries including US, France, Germany and China and what the government was suggesting was not a new thing.
The Minister said that for 57 years, the government did not ask for any such thing from them but the situation has undergone a change with economic liberalisation and privatisation which has witnessed fast growth and more job opportunities in private sector. This, she said, should also be seen in the backdrop of downsizing of government and PSUs which earlier used to provide job opportunities to the weaker sections.
The Social Justice Minister, however, rejected demands for applying the "creamy layer" concept in reservation for SC saying "unless you provide the benefit to a few generations, they would not be able to get maximum benefit of the reservation. It will be a punishment if creamy payer is applied in the community".
She also dismissed suggestions that merit was lacking in the community and reservation will kill the competitiveness of industry and business. "Looking down and doubting the ability of these sections is not good", she said.
Asked whether she was planning a meeting of heads of various chambers of Commerce and Industry and other prominent personalities to thrash out the issue expeditiously, the Minister said such an interaction could be decided by the GOM or the Prime Minister.
The Minister refrained from revealing the conclusions of the GOM headed by Sharad Pawar when asked whether the Group had suggested a Constutitional amendment in the wake of the Attorney General advising that reservation in private sector was violative of the constitution.
However, Kumar made it clear that her plans are clear from day one that "I should carry as many people as possible. So I have been talking to industry and business telling them that they have "moral" responsibility towards the society they live in which has large section of "deprived and vulnerable" and have had no opportunity.
"These people have merits because the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment as also others had invested huge money for their Social, Economic and educational development. They (industry and business) should come forward to help them", she said.
When asked if the government was ready to compromise with industry and business on the issue, Kumar quipped "what compromise! The bottom-line is that there should be affirmative action including reservation in jobs".
Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Meira Kumar says she plans to go to the Cabinet with the report of the Group of Ministers on the issue "at the earliest" as the reservation "has to be done and done fast". In an interview to the media, she, however, declined to hazard any guess on whether the government would act in the matter before the monsoon session of Parliament commencing next month or before the next round of assembly polls including in Uttar Pradesh scheduled early next year.
"There is a lot of pressure on me. I am working under great pressure but I want it to be done, done amicably and without any type of confrontation. Time is running out", Kumar said dismissing suggestions that the issue has been kept on the backburner in the wake of the OBC quota row.
Asked if she is referring to bringing legislation in this regard, Kumar said "I am not talking about legislation. I am telling the industrial and business houses how to do it.... "If they will not do it, then the matter is before the Cabinet and it will decide", she said admitting at the same time that the "reluctance on the part of the industry is petering down and its position has "softened".
Rejecting suggestions that the matter has taken a backseat in the wake of OBC quota row and also due to lack of consensus with industry on the issue, the Minister said "our next step is that there has to be a collective decision on it".
Kumar sought to emphasise that there has been unanimity among all political parties on the issue of reservation in private sector. Discussions in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya had witnessed all round support on the matter. Telling the industry and business that she does not have much time, Kumar reminded them that there was affirmative action in 20 odd countries including US, France, Germany and China and what the government was suggesting was not a new thing.
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The Minister said that for 57 years, the government did not ask for any such thing from them but the situation has undergone a change with economic liberalisation and privatisation which has witnessed fast growth and more job opportunities in private sector. This, she said, should also be seen in the backdrop of downsizing of government and PSUs which earlier used to provide job opportunities to the weaker sections.
The Social Justice Minister, however, rejected demands for applying the "creamy layer" concept in reservation for SC saying "unless you provide the benefit to a few generations, they would not be able to get maximum benefit of the reservation. It will be a punishment if creamy payer is applied in the community".
She also dismissed suggestions that merit was lacking in the community and reservation will kill the competitiveness of industry and business. "Looking down and doubting the ability of these sections is not good", she said.
Asked whether she was planning a meeting of heads of various chambers of Commerce and Industry and other prominent personalities to thrash out the issue expeditiously, the Minister said such an interaction could be decided by the GOM or the Prime Minister.
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The Minister refrained from revealing the conclusions of the GOM headed by Sharad Pawar when asked whether the Group had suggested a Constutitional amendment in the wake of the Attorney General advising that reservation in private sector was violative of the constitution.
However, Kumar made it clear that her plans are clear from day one that "I should carry as many people as possible. So I have been talking to industry and business telling them that they have "moral" responsibility towards the society they live in which has large section of "deprived and vulnerable" and have had no opportunity.
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"These people have merits because the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment as also others had invested huge money for their Social, Economic and educational development. They (industry and business) should come forward to help them", she said.
When asked if the government was ready to compromise with industry and business on the issue, Kumar quipped "what compromise! The bottom-line is that there should be affirmative action including reservation in jobs".
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