(Embargo: For publication/broadcast after 1930 hrs)

New Delhi, May 22 (UNI) Around 50,000 vacancies for reserved posts were filled up through direct recuritment or promotion during a special recruitment drive launched by the UPA coalition Government at the Centre over the past two years.

This is stated in the "Report To The People" released by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at a function here today to mark the completion of three years of the UPA Government in office.

According to the Report,a Group of Ministers has been set up to cover all dimensions regarding the question of reservation for the OBCs in backlog vacancies.

A Group of Ministers, constituted to examine the issue of affirmative action in the private sector,initiated a dialogue with the industry to see how best the private sector could fulfil the aspirations of the youths belonging to the SCs and STs and submitted its report.

A Coordination Committee, serviced by the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion, has initiated the process of obtaining comments from the industry with a view to coming out with a concrete scheme of affirmative action,says the Report.

The Report also points out that a Bill seeking to elevate reservations to a statutory right has been introduced in Parliament.

UNI