Stop concessions to Industry if refuses quota: SC panel to Govt

New Delhi, Feb 21 (UNI) Industry has come in for a sharp attack by the National Commission for Scheduled Castes for its reluctance to give quota to SCs ''while extracting concessions from the government at the cost of public money.'' ''The government should force the private sector to extend reservation to SCs and STs and do it early,'' acting chairman of the Commission Fakirbhai Vaghela said here.

The demand for benefits and privileges for these castes in the private sector was perfectly justified as very few jobs had been left with the government, he said.

The government was slowly withdrawing from a number of spheres, leaving the field open to the private sector to which it was giving a number of concessions and benefit only from the tax payers money,'' he pointed out.

''In such a situation, the industry cannot run away from its social responsibility. If it does so, it should become ineligible for such concessions,'' asserted Mr Vaghela.

The percentage for quota in the private sector should be the same as existing in government jobs, he said in reply to a question.

The Commission has also demanded that there should be punishment of the officers concerned if reserved posts in the government remain unfilled.

It has also taken serious note of the cases of bogus SC/St certificates being issued to ineligible persons. The Commission has written to state Chief Secretaries furnish information on the issue and take strict action against those responsible for issuing such certificates, Mr Vaghela said.

He said that a number of certificates to non-SC/ST person had been cancelled on the intervention of the Commission. One example was that of a woman, Banto Devi, who had contested for the post of sarpanch from Basatali Gram Panchayat in Haryana on a bogus caste certificate.

On receipt of the complaint, the matter was taken up with DM of Karnal who found, on verification, that that Banto Devi belonged to Bagigar caste which comes under OBCs in the state, following which her SC certificate was cancelled, said Mr Vaghela.

The present Commission, whose term is going to expire on February 24, has given its final recommendations to the Centre.

UNI