In a marked shift of stand, India Inc is exploring the possibility of introducing caste-based hiring in a bid to escape legally-enforceable job quotas for backward classes.
Companies may take a middle path.
NEW DELHI: In a marked shift of stand, India Inc is exploring the possibility of introducing caste-based hiring in a bid to escape legally-enforceable job quotas for backward classes.
An influential section of the industry is getting convinced that the politicians would be unstoppable in their enthusiasm for a law mandating reservations of jobs in private sector.
It feels the industry should try and pre-empt such a move by coming out with a “code of conduct” that would ensure a degree of social diversity in private sector employment.
The CII-Assocham joint task force, which came into being following the prime minister urging companies to make their employee profile more broad-based, is yet to take up a formal position on the subject. A member of the task force disclosed that the report, delayed by two weeks, will come out next month. It is understood that a set of proposals aimed at averting legislation and labour inspection raj are being seriously considered.
Leading chambers like Assocham categorically state that their members will follow the law of the land, suggesting it would be prudent for the industry to look for other ways to avoid the rigours of the law. The task force is trying to cobble up a middle-path between legislation and voluntary action by every entity with no government control.
However, opposition for job quota is continuing from various quarters. “The issue will have to be addressed at the root and this cannot be done merely through reservation,” observes Saroj Kumar Poddar, president of Ficci. To substantiate the view that education, not job reservation, is the answer, Ficci presented the results of a survey it had conducted of 100 ITIs to capture the present state of affairs in these institutions. It found that there was under-utilisation of seats as reported by 51% of the participating institutions.
“The Centre should focus on capacity building and developing entrepreneurial skills. The government can also come up with ‘deprivation points’ plan, where the students can be awarded points based on caste, the area they hail from and the school they have gone to, so that such students from backward castes and areas can be brought on par with privileged classes,” says an educational expert closely associated with the industry.
According to Ficci, the dropout rates amongst SC and ST students at the primary school level are as high as 44% and 57%, respectively and the chamber, according to Poddar, is willing to partner the government in helping this category of students continue education, throughout the country.
“On the contrary, introduction of quota could create casteism in the private sector, which is absent today because private sector units do not ask for any caste background while recruiting candidates for employment,” observed Poddar. Indeed, the result of introduction of quota system in the private sector could be contrary to the intentions of a well-meaning government, he added.
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