Date:21/04/2006 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2006/04/21/stories/2006042104570900.htm

Back `Reservation in pvt sector not conducive factor'

Our Bureau

Providing educational opportunites and skills to be better

New Delhi , April 20

"Mandatory reservation (for backward classes in the private sector) is not conducive to the competitiveness of the industry," said the newly appointed President of Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Mr R. Seshasayee.

Speaking at a press conference, Mr Seshasayee said that instead the focus should be on providing educational opportunities and skills for the empowerment of the backward classes.

Action Plan

Towards this end, he announced the constitution of a task force, headed by Dr J J Irani, Director, Tata Sons, which will prepare an action plan to focus on education, skills development, employability, entrepreneurship and social development. The action plan to promote inclusiveness, to be ready in eight weeks, would be implemented by CII.

In a release, industry chamber Assocham too voiced its concern over the proposal of reservation in the private sector. As a solution, it has mooted the proposal of imposition of additional education cess for a fund that could be utilised for the empowerment of the backward classes.

Industry chamber, FICCI, in its release suggested a five-point agenda as an alternative to reservations in the private sector. The agenda included public private partnership for retention of students of backward classes at the primary school level to reduce drop out rates; revamping of the existing Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) network and equipping them to train backward class candidates in various disciplines. A survey carried out by the chamber has found that nearly 51 per cent of the ITIs suffer from under utilisation of seats.

It also felt that backward class students who qualify for entry into institutes of higher learning should be provided financial support so that they are not denied opportunities for education and self-employment for lack of resources.