Private reservations

Immediately after Union human resources minister Arjun Singh aired his views about the possibility of introducing reservations in institutes of higher learning, speculation was rife that he had done so without consulting the prime minister. Indeed, the prime minister had long expressed strong views in favour of meritocracy rather than caste-based quotas.

Going by Manmohan Singh’s comments at the CII’s National Conference in Delhi on Tuesday, it appears there is less dissonance in the government on this issue than one would think.

Where Arjun Singh spoke of quotas in education, the prime minister has gone a step further. He thinks that the private sector would do well to voluntarily consider affirmative action in jobs in order to make the employee base “more representative.” This, he declared, was critical in order to build an inclusive society.

Coming from the government’s highest level, the message to the private sector is unambiguous: start applying your mind to this issue right away; otherwise the government will do it for you.

At this stage, it is only a thought, tossed on the table for the consideration of all stakeholders. Soon, it could become the law of the land.

This speculation is not as far fetched as it sounds. The Empowered Group of Ministers, led by agriculture minister Sharad Pawar, has already suggested that job reservations in the private sector could be made possible by amending the Constitution and bringing in a new law, should the Cabinet so decide.

There is a tendency in business circles to have a reaction against the very notion of job reservations and quotas. And, rightly so. In any democracy, the idea of one group getting preferential treatment over others is anathema to the principle of egalitarianism.

That such groups should be chosen on the basis of caste further militates against the republicanism India stands for.

But the private sector will be making an error if it believes it can wish away the idea of some form of affirmative action. Instead of taking up cudgels against the government, the leading minds of India Inc should offer their own solutions, such as providing training and scholarships for the disadvantaged.

That way, the private sector can show it is no less concerned than the prime minister about building an inclusive society. Meanwhile, the government would do well to put to rest all thoughts of legislating quotas.