The Hindu : New Delhi News : Industrialists averse to share wealth with poor: Udit Raj

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Dec 13, 2004

New Delhi

New Delhi

Industrialists averse to share wealth with poor: Udit Raj

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI, DEC. 12. Reservation in private sector, compulsory and equal education and validity of caste certificate of one State in another was sought by Dalits at a meeting held under the banner of the All India Confederation of SC/ST Organisations at the Ramlia Grounds here today.

Addressing the gathering, the national chairman of the confederation, Udit Raj, said though globalisation and privatisation of the economy has taken place in India, the economy is yet to see industrialists share the wealth with the poor as in the case of Afro Americans, Red Indians and Mexicans in the United States. On the contrary, he said, the industrialist here had opposed the reservation to Dalits in the private sector when the Prime Minister met them on the issue on December 4.

Of the view that the industrialists would have done better to oppose siphoning of profits to the tune of Rs 6,000 crores by the two soft drink giants or by uniting against the trade and commerce restrictions imposed by World Trade Organisation, IMF and World Bank, Mr Raj said unfortunately the Indian industrialists are not interested in the welfare of the masses and are only concerned about their own bank balances.

Stating that while not investing anything in the name of research and development, the Indian industrialists are the main reason for the parallel black economy and the stashing away of crores of rupees in secret foreign bank accounts. Noting that rather than merit it is favouritism, nepotism, force and pressure, which provides jobs in the private sector, the Dalit leader said it is due to ineffective human resources that our industries have failed to produce quality and quantity in the desired amount.

Noting that there are special welfare schemes for Blacks and Red Indians in the United States, where the Federal Government also purchases a certain percent of consumables and other items from the underprivileged classes to assist them, he said similar support should be given in India too.

With a large number of reserved posts still lying vacant, he urged that the Parliament expedite the enacting of the Reservation Act.

Mr Raj also charged that over 50 per cent of judges in the higher judiciary are kith and kin of those who have been in the judiciary and this reflects in various judgments such as those pertaining to banning of strikes, diluting reservation, favouring disinvestment and awarding capital punishment.

He said there is an urgent need for a Judicial Commission to ensure plurality of opinion and objectivity in the judiciary.

On the issue of caste certificates, the Dalit leader said while a Scheduled Caste is treated as such anywhere in the country, a Dalit is deprived of his reservation right if he moves out of his state and so a suitable legislation is need to end this anomaly.

Finally, he hoped that the industrialists will at least keep their word on promoting education among the Dalits and other underprivileged classes for their long-term upliftment.

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