The Hindu : National : Dalits for quota in private sector

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Monday, Dec 04, 2006
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Dalits for quota in private sector

Staff Reporter

Rally highlights various issues

NEW DELHI: Demanding the right to compulsory education with equal opportunities, a large number of Dalit leaders and activists on Sunday stressed that the quota system needs to be introduced in the private sector also as government jobs were shrinking due to privatisation and globalisation.

The leaders were addressing a rally organised by the All-India Confederation of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Organisations at Jantar Mantar here.

Referring to the killing of Dalits at Khairlanji in Maharashtra and desecration of the statue of Bhim Rao Ambedkar in Kanpur, they blamed the Government for "failing" to provide security to Dalits and backward people.

Stating that the country could not grow until Dalits were given equal opportunities and brought into the national mainstream, the confederation chairman, Udit Raj, accused the Manmohan Singh Government of failing to fulfil promises made in the United Progressive Alliance's Common Minimum Programme on Dalits and backward communities.

"Neither has the Government brought in any Act to strengthen reservation for SCs and STs in jobs, nor has it ensured reservation for Dalits in the private sector. It has also failed to fill vacant posts meant for them or bring special schemes for their social and economic uplift. The Union Government had constituted a Group of Ministers for making recommendations for reservation for Dalits in the private sector but suddenly it was dissolved. It is very difficult to understand what is restricting the Left-supported UPA Government from taking concrete steps for the uplift of Dalits and backward communities."

Mr. Raj demanded that a caste certificate issued to an SC and ST candidate by one State for availing himself of the benefits of reservation in education and jobs should be made valid in all States.

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