Reservation for OBC's to be avoided at all costs: Mittal

New Delhi, May 8 (UNI) Two days after his brother and CII Vice President Sunil Mittal said he would fight reservation if imposed with legislation, Rajan Mittal today said, that though reservation might have short-term benefits for some, its long-term implications would have quite adverse results.

''Reservation in all spheres of life, including for women and for OBC's should be avoided at all costs, as though it might have short-term benefits, its long-term implications are adverse,'' Mr Mittal said while addressing FICCI's 22nd Annual Session and National Convention on 'Corporate Governance -- Will more women on top lead to betterment?' ''The development of the country depends on the equality of persons in the work field and not on the basis of dividing genders,'' Mr Mittal said.

The booming economy has ushered in a new wave which is bringing in more and more women into the Industry. Around 25 per cent of the work force in IT, Telecom, Media, FMCG and BPOs are women, and this number is growing, although not at a fast pace, Mr Mittal said.

Mr Bharti, however, said diversity was important, specially in the services sector which accounted for 56 per cent of the economy. ''No better person that a woman would be able to handle this sector best, as it entails customer satisfaction, and it is the woman who builds the relationships, be it at home or work,'' he said.

On a lighter vein, he quipped, ''It is the season for reservation, be it for women or for the OBCs. Soon we men would also be looking at positions through reservation.'' Asked about what were the posts women were accorded in their own company, Mr Nittal said, ''By the year 2007, Bharti will run 23 circles all over the country, and it is our aim to have at least one woman CEO in each circle.'' PHDCCI President Sushma Berlia, who was also present on the occasion said,''Merit and competence is slowly taking precedence over gender issues,'' but urged working women to ''break through the glass ceiling which they are often faced with in their professional lives.'' UNI RA CS HT1452