Job opportunities in public sector have shrunk: Govt

New Delhi, Mar 3: Government today admitted in Rajya Sabha that the number of jobs in the public sector have shrunk and grown in the private sector and said it was examining creating a mechanism to give more representation to the weaker sections in employment.

"In government institutions, employment opportunies have declined while those in private sector have increased," Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Thaawar Chand Gehlot said, adding that weaker sections should get representation and the issue should be considered seriously.

During Question Hour, CPI member D Raja sought to know whether the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) has recommended to the Government to enact a legislation to make it mandatory for private sector to reserve 27 per cent jobs for Other Backward Classes (OBCs).

"The recommendation of NCBC has been received on February 8. The Government is examining the matter of a mechanism for affirmative action for the OBCs," Gehlot said. As Raja expressed concern over non-implementation of the reservation policy in private sector, Gehlot said he "agreed with the feelings expressed by the member and with a similar thinking, efforts are being made."

While several members including Raja sought specific details as to whether the government would implement reservation in the private sector and by what time frame, the Minister only replied saying that efforts in this direction have been made in the past and the endeavour is on.

Referring to the Committee set up on the issue, Gehlot said it had held consultations with industry bodies like CII, ASSOCHAM and FICCI and there have been attempts to provide scholarships and vocational training.

While efforts are on to fill the backlog of vacant reserved positions in the government sector, he said however even for OBCs, for whom 27 per cent seats in government are reserved, only 17 per cent have been filled.

Gehlot said he had also received a letter from the Backward Classes Commission on the quota issue and the government was examining all aspects.

PTI