Thursday, June 2 2005 20:28 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Bangalore: The Centre has made fairly good progress in overcoming the "vehement" opposition by private sector in accepting the Government's proposal for providing reservation to SCs and STs, Union Minister for Social Justice Meira Kumar said today (Jun 2, 2005).

Following constant parleys and persuasion in the last one year, about 22 top corporate giants including Birla group, Infosys, WIPRO, TATAs, Mahindras and Bajaj have pledged support to the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government's programme on providing reservation in jobs to private sector to SCs and STs, she told reporters in Bangalore.

In consonance with the UPA's Common Minimum Programme to provide reservation in private sector, the Government would continue the dialogue; she said and hoped that it would achieve the "goal."

Kumar promised Karnataka that she would approve all projects that the State would submit to her Ministry for the welfare of OBCs, Minorities, disabled and other deprived sections of the society.

Chief Minister N Dharam Singh said during the last year (2004) the Centre released Rs 72 crore to the State under various welfare programmes and so far this year, it has received Rs 16 crore funds.

He said he has directed departments working under Social Welfare Ministry to prepare new schemes and submit it to the Centre seeking financial support to implement them.