Report progress on affirmative steps for SCs/STs: Govt to India Inc

The government asked India Inc to provide a progress report on affirmative action for SC/STs in the next few months,so that it can be included in Prime Ministers Independence Day speech.

The government on Tuesday asked India Inc to provide a progress report on affirmative action for SC/STs in the next few months,so that it can be included in Prime Ministers Independence Day speech.

At a meeting ,chaired by Prime Ministers Principal Secretary TKA Nair,industry chambers including CII,Ficci and Assocham were asked to provide details of measures taken by their member firms to create and provide jobs for persons belonging to Schedules Castes and Scheduled Tribes. The details will be used as inputs for the PMs Independence Day speech, a person present at the meeting said.

Industry chambers were also asked to ensure that their member companies report details of affirmative action taken by them in their annual reports. While some companies have already started this practice,the government wants that it should be encouraged so that there is more transparency and accountability, the person said.

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Further,the Prime Ministers Office also stressed on the need for industry chambers to appoint an ombudsman to monitor the progress on affirmative action by member companies. While Ficci and Assocham have already appointed Ombudsman,CII is in the process of doing so.

The meeting focused on issues regarding ombudsman,voluntary code of conduct and skill development initiatives, the person added. Nair also reviewed the progress on adopting a voluntary code by companies to implement policies for affirmative action.

More than 1 500 companies in the private sector have adopted a voluntary code of conduct. The action hinges around four major points or 4E Employability,Education,Entrepreneurship Development and Employment. The chambers of Industry have reported that under the 4E programme,1,12,702 persons have benefited so far, as per an official statement released after the meeting.