Press Trust of India / New Delhi Nov 16, 2009, 16:44 IST
Terming the Equal Opportunity Commission Bill as a "threshold and milestone" legislation, Minority Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid today said the government plans to get it passed by Parliament in the winter session beginning November 19.
The government has accepted almost 95 per cent of the Sachchar Committee recommendations, including the setting up of an EOC, to better the lot of minorities, the minister said while addressing a media interaction here.
He said the draft paper for setting up of EOC has been forwarded to the Union Cabinet, which will take a view after a Group of Minister (GoM) considers it. The GoM will also decide where the Commission has to be located.
EOC does not "make any artificial divide between state and non-state functionary" for ensuring affirmative action for deprived groups and breaks the barrier for regulation between private and government sectors, Khurshid said.
He said the Commission will start with focussing on employment and education aspects and will intervene when the "aspirational diversity" is not reflected in any institution.
Acknowledging that ensuring affirmative action in private sector is a "difficult area", the minister said, EOC can suo motto take note of the lack of it in institutions and may suggest the government to take corrective actions.
He also said individual parties can approach the court with EOC's findings, which will be based on comprehensive data for which the Commission will have a data bank.
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