Govt firm in its stand on SC/ST place in pvt sector:Meira

New Delhi, Mar 15 (UNI) Underlining that no economy can grow by ignoring its marginalised sections, Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Meira Kumar today said the Government was committed to see that the private sector shouldered its social responsibiliy.

''Initially the Corporate sector was reluctant, but of late they have started talking of their responsibility towards these groups,'' Ms Kumar said addressing a group of 20 students from Dresden Business School, Virginia.

She said a Group of Ministers had interaction wih the apex associations of industry and trade and at present a Coordination Committee was examining the issue in order to give a concrete shape to the suggestions received during the course of dialogue.

She said there was direct co-relation between spread of state activities and welfare of weaker sections in the pre-90s period in the country. However, with the adoption of liberalisation, globalisation and privatisation, very few jobs had been left with the government.

The Minister told the students that the Scheduled Castes and Tribes taken together constiuted about one-fourth of the population and affirmative action taken for their welfare were directly related to the overall development of the country.

She said persons with disabilities were also a segment of the society which needed affirmative action.

On this occasion, a power-point presentation was also made for the visiting sudents.

Wishing the students success in the fulfilment of their dreams, Ms Kumar exhorted them a give a place to the marginalised in their dreams for a better world.

The students delegation is on a Global Business Experience(GBE) trip to the capital. The trip is aimed at providing students an opportunity to visit a country and experience business practices and cultures other than those of their own country.

UNI