AA Code of Conduct to be adopted by Oct'06, not to be enacted

New Delhi, July 28 (UNI) Indian industry today laid out concrete steps for the inclusion of schedule tribes and schedule castes into the private industry, and said the formulation of a Code of Conduct for the purpose, would be adopted by October this year.

The CII-Assocham Task Force report on affirmative action (AA), released by CII President R Seshasayee under the Chairmanship of Tata Sons Director J J Irani here, proposed the mentoring of 100 SC/ST entrepreneurs to be created in the first year, 50,000 scholarships to students in 50 cities by 2009, in institutes of higher learning, provide 50 prestigious overseas scholarships in the next five years, and sponsoring training programs in its six centres.

''The report was based on three cornerstones -- the full acknowledgement of our responsibility to move forward on this issue, whatever we do has to further the industry and the entire initiative cannot be formed by legislation. Industry bodies cannot mandate behaviour on part of members,'' Mr Seshasayee said.

On whether the report had the government's support, Mr Seshasayee said, ''The Prime Minister was complimentary on the report when we met him day before yesterday. He was happy about the fact that the industry will be accountable for its work. He commented that the industry should continue competitiveness, while saying that the SC/ST economically backward should also progress forward.'' Private sector industry is against any legislation that would compromise the sanctity of its non-negotiable freedom of choice in employment, the report titled 'Concrete Steps by Indian Industry On Inclusiveness For Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes,' said.

The industry is of the view that a cohesive and integrated society, in which all individuals have access to opportunities for personal growth, will foster inclusive development, propel economic growth and also enhance its competitiveness.

The initiatives for concrete steps will be voluntary and self-regulated by companies and industry. Transparency will be ensured through disclosure in the Annual Reports of companies, and the Chambers will set up individual Councils to promote, coordinate and oversee industry action for the proposed steps.

An Ombudsman will be appointed to oversee initiatives on Proposed Concrete Steps by its members.

Other steps include, providing educational support to students from SC/STs in entrance exams for professional and technical courses. 10 centres will be established in the first year covering 5,000 students for admission to courses in 2007, the report said.

Industry will also provide inputs in focusing cess funds for quality schools in the 104 districts with a pronounced population of socially and economically backward amongst SC/STs.

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