Backward classes panel for quota in private sector

The National Commission of Backward Classes has written to the social justice ministry to bring a bill for providing 27 percent reservation for backward classes in private sector jobs, a member said on Tuesday.

Shakeel-uz-Zaman Ansari said that panel had sent its recommendation for a bill for private sector quota to the ministry ahead of the budget session of parliament that begins February 23, adding the decision to make the recommendation was taken at a meeting of the panel held earlier this month.

He said the issue had been taken up by the commission in "a routine manner" as part of its work for the welfare of backward classes.

"We have made a specific recommendation to bring a bill to provide 27 percent reservation in private sector jobs to OBCs," he said.

He said the issue of reservation in private sector jobs was not new and suggestions have also been made for reservation in private sector for scheduled castes and scheduled tribes.

The commission is a statutory body under the social justice ministry.

The government has said in the past that there is no proposal under its consideration for reservation for SCs, STs and OBCs in the private sector.

It had formed a coordination committee under the chairmanship of the principal secretary to prime minister in October 2006 to carry forward the dialogue with industry on affirmative action for SCs and STs.