Parliamentary panels flays OFB for under-representation of SC/ST staff

A parliamentary panel has flayed the Ordinance Factory Board (OFB) for under representation of staff from Scheduled Tribe (ST) and Schedule Caste (SC) communities, terming the present recruitment and promotion policy as "faulty".

It seems that the OFB is not serious enough to implement constitutional provisions on the reservation policy, the panel observed.

The panel, headed by BJP MP Kirit Solanki, submitted the report to the Lok Sabha today.

"The committee is perturbed to note that the representation of STs in the overall staff strength of OFB is below prescribed percentage," the panel observed.

It further stated that as on January 1, 2011, there was a huge shortfall of 9,143 and 492 in Group A, B and C posts, respectively, of the ST category.

The panel said the OFB, in its reply to the committee, has stated there was non-availability of SC/ST candidates.

"From the reply it seems that OFB is not serious enough to implement constitutional provisions on the reservation policy of the government in letter and spirit. The committee feels that present recruitment and promotion policy framed are faulty to deprive SCs/STs to get an opportunity to be recruited under the reservation policy or to reach the highest level," it said.

The OFB manufactures arms and ammunition for the armed and para-military forces.