'AA within framework of constitutional ambit'

New Delhi, May 8: Affirmative action is within the framework of the constitutional ambit and has been recognised as a tool to promote certain sections of society, Minister of State for Industry Ashwani Kumar said today.

While speaking at FICCI's 22nd Annual Session and National Convention on 'Corporate Governance, 'Will more women on top lead to betterment?', Mr Kumar said, ''This debate is spurious as the masses in India are absolutely untouched by the economic revolution that is taking place in the country.'' On the position of women on the map of the booming economy, Mr Kumar said, ''Only 5.4 per cent of women in India are graduates.

While the entire private sector including organised and unorganised employs only 20 lakh women, the public sector engages a mere 29 per cent.'' This, he said, underlines the need for greater involvement of women in the corporate world.

He was, however, of the opinion that the upswing in the economy was something that only people in the metros were familiar with, while the masses in rural India remained oblivious of the change.

He stressed the need to focus on manufacturing in the hinterland as a result of which, ''one per cent growth in the manufacturing would lead to a three per cent growth in services.'' Such a strategy, he said, would pave the way for more women being employed in jobs requiring soft skills, and urged women captains of the industry to reach out to the villages and empower women to take forward the task of nation building.

While appealing to the women who were doing well professionaly, he said, ''You all are very lucky to be placed where you are and be contributing to the country's economy, as the women in the villages are yet to see or be affected by the changes, the spiralling economy has brought about in their country.

UNI