Tuesday, April 18 2006 14:08 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Amid debate on a possible legislation for job reservation in private sector, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today (Apr 18, 2006) urged the industry to broad base employment and participate in empowerment of women and minorities.

"I urge you to give more attention to questions of social and economic discrimination and deprivation to the educational and health status of our people, to employment generation, to social security and to the employment of women and minorities," Singh told captains of industry at the annual conference of Confederation of Indian Industry.

Singh said that diversity in Industry's employee profile and voluntary commitment to make employment more broad based and representative through an affirmative action could be a crucial component of the inclusive society that "We hope to build."

Singh's comments came in the backdrop of recommendation by the empowered group of Ministers, headed by Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, that a job reservation in the private sector could be possible through amending the constitution and bringing in a new law, an issue that the cabinet should decide.

He said industry could play a leading social role in the empowerment of the less privilaged, marginalised groups and ensure that no group feels excluded from enjoying the fruits of rapid economic growth.

"I urge industry to seriously consider enhancing education and employment opportunities for weaker section and investing in their skill enhancement and promoting their employment in an affirmative manner," he said.