Parliament panel to debate proposal on private sector quota for Dalits, tribals

NEW DELHI: In a consequential move, a key parliamentary panel is set to discuss proposal for reservation in private sector, a sensitive issue with serious political and social repercussions.
The issue pertains to extending the frontiers of quota for Dalits and tribals from govt to private sector, a demand which gained prominence during UPA decade but then petered out. UPA govt, led by Manmohan Singh, had formed a dedicated ‘group of ministers’ to discuss the issue but its prolonged discussions did not lead to any concrete output, despite touching a crescendo at one point. It is likely the second time that a top govt or parliamentary body will discuss the subject.
The parliamentary committee on welfare of SCs/STs has listed it as part of its annual agenda of deliberations. Sources said the subject was mooted by

Azad Samaj Party

MP Chandrashekhar Azad in the first meeting of the panel to finalise list of business, and found support from others.
The proposal to extend quotas to private sector, which has had some push from champions of

social justice

but never became a forceful demand, has a polarising edge. While its proponents argue that rapid privatisation is leading to shrinking of seats in govt sector that fall in ambit of reservations, other decry that it will hurt the economy and compromise

merit in appointments

in the industry and corporate sector. Some also argue that enforcing quotas in private bodies would be unconstitutional.
Chairman of the committee, Faggan Singh Kulaste said, “The issues are decided by the members. It is the agenda of the year and we will take up this subject with time.”