Khurshid does not favour reservations in private sector

Corporate Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid Saturday said he was not in favour of mandatory reservation in the private sector, maintaining that the government's thrust on inclusive growth will comprehensively address the larger issue of affirmative action.

"Empowering and capacity building is the answer and not reservations," Khurshid told reporters on the margins of a conference organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) here.

"Affirmative action reaches out more than reservations. While reservations might have worked for us in the past, I don't think they are the solution for the future," he said, adding: "I am not in favour of reservations in the private sector."

Khurshid, who also oversees the minority affairs ministry, said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has also been talking about voluntary affirmative action by the private sector and not reservations. "We should'nt whip this horse too much," he said, when pressed further to comment on job quotas.

Manmohan Singh put job quotas in the private sector on the national agenda in April 2006 by calling on industry to voluntarily extend affirmative action. He said it was time companies acknowledged the value of diversity and broad-based their workforce.

Following that a task force was set up by apex chambers under Tata Sons director J.J. Irani, which in its report to the prime minister rejected any law on affirmative action.

"Industry believes competitiveness of enterprise and economy is not negotiable and must be achieved and maintained through knowledge and competence in this rapidly developing Indian economy," said the report.

"There are no quick fix solutions to resolve social discrimination. Industry is against quick-fix solutions. The US took 30 years to get its equal opportunity programme working."

Last updated on Jul 4^th, 2009 at 16:05 pm IST--IANS