Industry proposes Dalit jobs plan, rejects quotas

MUMBAI: Indian Inc has decided to stand firm against any dilution of its right to hire competent people for jobs in the corporate sector.

However, it has simultaneously decided to announce a time-bound action plan to develop business opportunities for Dalits and improve education and job skills among them.

In separate presentations made to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and social welfare minister Meira Kumar on Wednesday, officials from  the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and the Associated Chambers of Commerce & Industry (Assocham), explained their action plan for the first year.

The highlights of the CII-Assocham action plan include the mentoring of at least 100 scheduled caste/scheduled tribe (SC/ST) entrepreneurs in the very first year and partnering with non-government organisations to develop primary education in 104 districts with a pronounced SC/ST population.

According to industry sources, the prime minister indicated that when there was voluntary action, legislation on job quotas may not be needed.

There was, however, no independent confirmation from the prime minister’s office about what he told the industry team, which included JJ Irani, head of the CII-Assocham joint task force on inclusiveness for scheduled castes and tribes.

The report will be formally unveiled on Friday at a press conference.