Thursday, August 31 2006 11:09 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Adding his voice to the demands for implementation of quota in private sector, Union Tribal Affairs Minister P R Kyndiah yesterday (Aug 30, 2006) said corporates will have to introduce reservation on their own as part of their social obligations.

"Reservation in private sector is must. This is part of their obligations to the society," Kyndiah told sources here.

The Minister, however, said he was not in favour of any drastic step to enforce quota in private sector, as proposed by his other colleagues in the Government.

"I would not favour enforcing quota in private sector. They should implement it on their own," he said.

Some time back Social Justice minister Meira Kumar had mooted a law to provide for reservation in private sector. However, a Group of Ministers on the issue did not favour a legislation for it.

The Minister said even in countries like the US, the private sector contributes a lot for community development.

The supporters of quotas say Indian democracy cannot afford inequality and needs equitable growth for all sections, and put forward the point that since the public sector has not been generating enough employment, the backward castes must beaccommodated in the private sector through quotas.

Those opposed to the idea feel such restrictions will affect corporate India's efficiency. The private sector employs people on the basis of merit and not caste, they argue.

The Government, meanwhile has assured that it will immediately initiate a national dialogue with all political parties, industry and other organisations to see how best the private sector can fulfil the aspirations of scheduled caste and scheduled tribe youth.