New Delhi: India Inc. is gearing up to launch "affirmative action" to increase jobs for the socially as well as economically backward sections of society, according to the new president of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), R. Seshasayee.

The corporate sector has always been engaged in providing training facilities and employment to those on the fringes of economic development. For instance, many companies like his own — Ashok Leyland — have been carrying out training to provide skills to tribal people.

Mr. Seshasayee told The Hindu that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's comments on broad-basing employment opportunities at the CII's annual conclave had prompted some thinking about the need to give special attention to those in the category of socially backward classes. He noted in this context that companies had so far not made any effort to identify people in the Scheduled Castes or Scheduled Tribes segment who are already being trained or employed. Indicating that domestic industry may already be employing a significant percentage of such groups, he said: "We do recognise that socially backward classes need special attention".

Competency and skills

Mr. Seshasayee said the focus of affirmative action by industry would mean to build competency and skills to enable this section of society to compete effectively in the market place. At the same time, he stressed that as an apex chamber, the CII can only urge its members to go ahead with affirmative action to hire persons from socially backward classes. "We are not the Government. We cannot mandate our member companies, but can certainly push and advice them to do so," he said.

The aim of the chamber would be, he said, to highlight this issue and give trophies to companies becoming leaders in such affirmative action recruitment. The CII would have specific suggestions for its member companies after the report of the committee headed by J.J. Irani is made available. He firmly believed, however, that domestic corporates should aim to develop both "employability and competitiveness" of those who are in the category of socially and economically backward classes.

Rehabilitation

On the other issue raised by the Prime Minister relating to rehabilitation and development, Mr. Seshasayee felt this was a complex question. He pointed out that most land transfers made by the Government for industrial projects are with the condition that those displaced in the region must be employed in the factories being set up there. The Government, very rightly, he felt, insists that those living in the area must not be displaced and emphasised that industry should feel responsible about this issue. But, sometimes instead of just giving employment, there are other ways to work out the situation, he said.

On the ways to shift gears to bring the economy to a high 10 per cent growth path, Mr. Seshasayee said "it is a two-way process." Industry, he maintained, is already raising the stakes in terms of markets and products. "The flowers of enterprise are all around us", he said. At the same time, the industry cannot continue to remain competitive by relying on labour arbitrage and lowcost products. Corporates must attain a leadership position globally so as to protect and sustain growth, he said.

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