Expressing its commitment for reservation for SC, ST and OBC in promotion, the government today sought the cooperation of the Congress in creating the right atmosphere before a law could be enacted to give the proposal the statutory backing.
Admitting that there were sections in the NDA as well as in the Congress who were opposed to reservation in promotions, Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment Thawar Chand Gehlot said "the government favours reservation in promotion...(but) we need to create the right atmosphere."
The Minister was responding to the demand for reservation in promotion raised by Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge during a debate on demands of grants for the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. The demands were later passed by the Lok Sabha after rejecting opposition-sponsored cut motions by voice vote.
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"If Congress can give in writing that it favoured reservation in promotion (for members of Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe and Other Backward Caste), the government will push forward the proposal," Gehlot said.
Earlier during the UPA regime, a bill to ensure reservation in promotion was approved by the Rajya Sabha but could not go through in the Lok Sabha because of differences among political parties.
Seeking to put the ball in the BJP's court, Kharge said at present, the NDA government has the majority and it should try to push the proposal so that members of the SC, ST and OBC may get the benefit of reservation in promotion.
The NDA members, Kharge said, should convince Prime Minister Narendra Modi about the need for reservation in promotion.
Several members also raised the issue that members of SC and ST communities were not adequately represented in higher judiciary and the corporate sector.
Gehlot said if the corporate sector willingly decide to provide reservation to SC, ST and OBC, the government will not have any problem.
"If the corporates willingly create an atmosphere for giving reservation, we will have no problem," the Minister said.
Gehlot said there was no question of doing away with the
system of reservation. "It is not even in our mind. Reservation will continue," he added.
Stressing that NDA government was trying to spread the message of Bhim Rao Ambedkar by developing 'panch tirath' (five places) connected with his life, the Minister wondered why the UPA did not do anything to build memorials in the honour of the Chairman of the drafting committee of the Constitution.
Admitting that a lot was needed to be done to ensure social and economic justice for the deprived sections of the society, Gehlot said the government is committed to fulfill all constitutional obligations.
Accusing the Congress of exploiting the suicide by dalit student Rohith Vemula in Hyderabad for political reasons, he sought to know why neither Congress president Soina Gandhi nor vice president Rahul Gandhi visited Hyderabad University where 11 students committed suicide during UPA rule.
"There are many Gandhis in the Congress party but they hardly follow the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi," he quipped, evoking strong protests from Congress members.
Gehlot further said the government would bring a bill for the welfare of transgenders within the year and promised to provide adequate funds for the medical treatment of the differently disabled.
Responding to the criticism that enough funds were not earmarked for his ministry, he said he would have been happier with more, but paucity of funds would not come in way of the working of his ministry.
Moreover, the budgetary allocations for all programmes have been increased and the hike in terms of percentage was much more than what was provided by UPA government, he said.
Gehlot further said the programmes like Stand Up India was aimed at helping the dalit lead the life of dignity by becoming entrepreneurs.
Participating in the discussion, many members demanded reservation for backward class, including SC, ST, in private sector jobs.
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Kaushalendra Kumar (JD-U) demanded that backward people having 40 per cent disability and old age pension for those above 60 years of age be raised to Rs 3,000 per month.
"For upliftment of backwards caste and dalits, there is a need for bringing reservation in private sector jobs... The census data for OBC people should be made public," Kumar said.
Tapas Mandal (TMC) alleged that the name of B R Ambedkar was being misused by political parties for their own gains. He said that the money sanctioned for the sub-plan for SC, ST was not enough.
Virendra Kumar Choudhary (BJP) pleaded for separate provisioning for extremely backward castes. "There should be reservation for backward caste in private companies as well," he said.
Asaduddin Owaisi (MIM) said the government has slashed the allocation for the Social Justice Ministry in Budget.
Observing that as per 2011 census, population of dalits have increased to 16.6 per cent, Owaisi demanded that the quota for SCs be increased from 15 per cent to 16.6 per cent. He also sought to know whether the scholarship provided to OBC students would be increased.
Expelled RJD member Rajesh Ranjan (RJD) asked the government whether it would ever bring in 50 per cent reservation as was suggested by Ambedkar.
As Hukumdev Narayan Yadav, who was in the Chair, asked Ranjan should wrap up his speech, he sought more time. Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Rajiv Pratap Rudy also intervened to urge Yadav to grant Ranjan some more time, but the Chair refused saying he has already given his ruling.
Savitri Bai Phule (BJP) said Congress has not given SC, STs their due since independence. She said that backward caste students faced problems in getting admission in school.
