Affirmative Action for the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes communities is defined as a voluntary commitment by Indian companies to help the Government and civil society in the national endeavour to ensure equal opportunity to members of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes communities.
The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) constituted a task force to examine the modalities for affirmative action, subsequently joined by ASSOCHAM. The Task Force, headed by Dr J J Irani, Director, Tata Sons, brought out its report in July 2006. Entitled ‘CII-ASSOCHAM Action Plan: Proposed Concrete Steps by Indian Industry on Affirmative Action for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes', the report outlined what industry could do to deepen representation of weaker sections in Indian industry.
India's caste-based society and social predicaments are unique, and pose special challenges to inclusiveness. However, given the country's projected population dynamics, marginalisation of any section of society from the market economy will seriously impact India's overall competitiveness and economic prospects. In our rapid march towards economic prosperity, inclusiveness and competitiveness are interdependent and one cannot be achieved without the other.
Thus Indian industry needs to put in place measures that will facilitate greater inclusion of all sections of society in the workplace. The following are the key elements of the CII Action Plan:
Code of Conduct for Affirmative Action to be followed by companies. The Code relates to non-discrimination, assistance, and transparency with respect to employees/ applicants/ vendors from the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes communities. This is a voluntary commitment.
CII National Council on Affirmative Action to identify, operationalise and monitor the Action Plan
Targets for Education, Employability, Entrepreneurship and Workplace Action Plans.
Dissemination of information and best practices on Affirmative Action Industry's action plan for inclusiveness centers on entrepreneurship development, self-employment, training and skilling. The main targets of the Report are to create SC/ST entrepreneurs annually, coach SC/ST students in universities each year, assist in entrance exams for professional colleges, and provide scholarships in schools and colleges.
Success in integrating marginalized communities into mainstream economic activities will come from concerted efforts from both Government and industry together with leadership at the highest levels. SC/ST sections of society have traditionally been deprived of opportunities. Their greater economic participation cannot come from reservations in jobs and education, but through capacity-building and talent value addition.
CII's Affirmative Action Plan aims to deliver model success stories that can be scaled up for more inclusive development.
Affirmative Action for the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes communities is defined as a voluntary commitment by Indian companies to help the Government and civil society in the national endeavour to ensure equal opportunity to members of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes communities.
The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) constituted a task force to examine the modalities for affirmative action, subsequently joined by ASSOCHAM. The Task Force, headed by Dr J J Irani, Director, Tata Sons, brought out its report in July 2006. Entitled ‘CII-ASSOCHAM Action ...