Reservation in Employment in Private Sector: Govt reply in Rajya Sabha

Press Information Bureau 

Government of India

Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment 

12-December-2013 16:23 IST

A high level Coordination Committee under the Chairmanship of Principal Secretary to Prime Minister was constituted in October 2006, to carry forward the dialogue with the Industry on Affirmative Action, including reservation in Private Sector. The Coordination Committee is serviced by the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion. The Coordination Committee has been holding meetings with the apex Chambers from time to time. The Industry Associations viz. Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) and Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) have developed their respective Voluntary Code of Conduct (VCC) for member companies wherein stress has been laid on equal opportunities in employment for all sections of society, removing bias in employment to disadvantaged sections of society, increasing employability of socially disadvantaged sections through skill upgradation, continuous training and providing scholarships.

A brief summary of updated actions taken on Affirmative Action in the Private Sector in respect of three Industry Associations as provided by the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) is as follows:

i)          Confederation of Indian Industry (CII)

a)         Affirmative Action Council (AAC) has been formed. The AAC has identified 4 areas of Affirmative-work, Employability, Entrepreneurship, Education and Employment.

(b)        Affirmative Fund has been set up.

c)         126032 candidates from Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe (SC/ST) community have been trained in various vocational skills.

d)         56141 Scholarships have been provided to SC/ ST students.

e)         81 Entrepreneurship development training programmes have been held.

f)         Mid day meal programmes have been started in backward districts in all four zones of the country.

g)         395 Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) have been adopted for upgradation.

h)         822 companies have adopted Voluntary Code of Conduct.

ii)         Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI)

a)         89219 candidates from SC/ST community have been trained in various vocational skills.

b)         482 Scholarships have been provided to SC/ ST students.

c)         3503 Entrepreneurship development training programmes have been held.

d)         9488 SC/ST students have been provided free education.

e)         451 companies have adopted Voluntary Code of Conduct.

iii)        Associated Chamber of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM)

a)         995 companies have adopted Voluntary. Code of Conduct.

b)         150 ITIs have been upgraded.

c)         1519 SC/ST students have been imparted Skill Upgradation and Entrepreneurship Development trainings.

d)         100 scholarships provided to SC/ST students for studying in premier institutions like IITs/ IIMs.

e)         14950 candidates have been trained under Skill Development programmes.

This information was given by the Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, Shri Manikrao Hodlya Gavit in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha.