New Delhi, July 05: The government said that creating more jobs, not reservation, is needed for the uplift of weaker sections of society.
“I am not a great votary of reservation. I don’t believe reservation is the answer for the future,” Minority Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid said in New Delhi at a function organised by industry body Confederation of Indian Industry.
The minister, who is also holding the charge of the Corporate Affairs Ministry, said that empowerment and capacity building are the answers and not reservation. The previous UPA government had asked the private sector to go for affirmative action in giving jobs to weaker sections as part of corporate social responsibility (CSR).
Khurshid pointed out that the country can achieve equality effectively with affirmative action as it is a more smooth process, is accommodative and goes farther than reservations.
Khurshid said reservations played a very important role for the targeted population. “I think we should not whip this horse too much and now there are some wonderful opportunities available the world over and certainly in our own country in affirmative action,” he added.
However, the minister made it clear that he is not the last word on job reservations in the private sector as there are many other people who have opinions while the government will have to take a view.
The matter will take shape in due course in the commission to be set up on equal opportunities. When asked about the salaries of company CEOs, Khurshid said it is for shareholders and the company to decide what is good for them.
-Agencies