Job quota in private sector dead for now;new Industrial Policy soon

Hannover, Apr 23 (UNI) Faced with a strong resistance from the industry, the government has dropped the controversial proposal for reservation of jobs in the private sector even as the Commerce and Industry Ministry will take a new Investment Policy to the Cabinet in the next six weeks.

ђ We are coming out with a new industrial policy within the next six weeksҒ, Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath told newspersons from India here last evening.

The ђall-inclusiveҒ policy will reward , with a host of fiscal incentives, the companies which will set up labour intensive units in the socially and economically backward areas, Mr Kamal Nath said.

Another Cabinet Minister accompanying the Prime Minister to Hannover said the Group of Ministers on the issue of reservation of jobs in the private sector has lapsed.

ђ There is nothing pending before the CabinetҒ, he said.

Prime Minister Manmohan along with a few of his Cabinet colleagues is here for the inauguration of the world famous Hannover Fair in which India is the Partner Country.

He said the GoM has lapsed, since the feed back from the industry was that of a strong opposition to the proposal. However, the government has asked the industry to voluntarily come out with affirmative actions so that the benefits of a high economic growth could reach to cities and rural areas beyond Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai.

The Cabinet Minister said the industry had no data and does not want to get into the business of knowing the caste and creed of its employees.

Taking the cue, the Confederation of Indian Industry, has already set up a Task Force under the Chairmanship of J J Irani.

ђ We have told the government that the industry does not want reservation. Besides, how can we force reservation on the the Multinational companies ђ, CII Deputy Director General and CEO of India Brand Equity Foundation, Ajay Khanna said.

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