This story is from July 27, 2006

India Inc to meet PM on job quota issue

The captains of Indian industry have submitted a plan of action to PM. But opposed any law to impose job quota.
India Inc to meet PM on job quota issue
NEW DELHI: Outlining the affirmative action that it was willing to take for empowering the socially underprivileged, captains of Indian industry have submitted a plan of action to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh but opposed any law to impose job quotas in the private sector.
CII President R Seshasayee, Assocham President Anil Agarwal and J J Irani, who chaired a CII-appointed panel on job reservations in the private sector, submitted the Irani Committee report that opposed "curtailment of freedom of employers" in the matter of employment.

Asked about the response of the Prime Minister, Seshasayee said: "We submitted the report on Wednesday. Details of this and interaction with Prime Minister will be disclosed tomorrow."
According to sources, the Irani panel has said in the report that industry chambers are looking at a code of conduct for implementing the affirmative action, which will come into effect from October this year, and this will be implemented by the companies individually.
The report is understood to have promised to help Dalits to get jobs, sources said, adding that the industry has agreed to create 100 entrepreneurs from the SC/ST categories in one year.
The Irani Committee was formed by CII and Assocham to suggest ways and means to help the backward people to get employment to avoid any legislation by the government in this regard.
Besides Irani, the committee had five members -- R Seshasayee, Anil Aggarwal, Sunil Munjal of Hero Honda group and Subodh Bhargav, past president of CII.

The report has categorically stated that any recommendation of the Irani panel on affirmative action would be implemented on voluntary basis and there would be no law to regulate it.
While stating that freedom to employ is non-negotiable, the industry is understood to have made big promises to help the backward and underprivileged sections of society for employment.
The industry chambers declined to reveal the details of the report as it is being disclosed on Friday.
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