In a meeting to review the progress of the Coordination Committee on Affirmative Action, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) as well as national industry chambers have agreed that “a lot of effort is being made but it is still sporadic and scattered.”
Hence, wanting "visible impact" of the affirmative action for employment of SCs and STs in private sector, the PMO today asked the industry chambers to set time-bound targets and directed the Commerce Ministry to build a database for clarity on figures.
It was suggested that each industry chamber could work out a five-year vision voluntarily which could guide the annual action plans, the statement said, adding, "This would give an idea of the long term path and where they aim to be," as a lot of work has been done in the area of affirmative action but not captured well.
“It was noted that some progress had been made in adopting the Voluntary Code of Conduct and running skill development and vocation education programs to improve the employability of weaker sections,” a PMO statement said.
“It was decided that Secretary (DIPP) would set up a system to collect quarterly data from the three chambers and build a database on Affirmative Action for SCs/STs," the statement added.
The chambers were also requested to focus on certain geographical areas and leverage on similar other government programmes.
Twenty-seven districts identified as having 47 per cent population of SCs/STs as per the 2011 census could be adopted by industry associations, the statement said.
"Skill development is a national priority and focus should always be on the weaker sections of the society so as to enable them to avail the benefits of government programmes," it said.
Industry bodies CII, Assocham and Ficci presented their respective activities for enhancing the participation of the marginalized sections in the private sector.
Ficci has adopted Sonbhadra district of Uttar Pradesh which has more than 47 per cent population of SCs/STs.
Assocham informed that they have a National Council of Affirmative Action and programmes were organised to sensitise their industry members on affirmative action.
CII said it is committed to working on education, employability, employment and entrepreneurship and that any programme on affirmative action should have economic targets.
