Steel Minister Ram Vilas Paswan today sought a Bill in Parliament by the next Budget Session on the proposal of reservations for Dalits and Adivasis in the private sector. Paswan, who is a member of the Group of Ministers set up by the Prime Minister to look into the issue, said it was ‘‘basically a matter of political will’’. He pointed out that President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, in his address to Parliament on June 7, had ‘‘articulated our keenness to work for reservations for Dalits and Adivasis in the private sector’’. ‘‘By the time the next address is due, promises made in the last address must be implemented,’’ he said.The GOM, headed by Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, includes Railway Minister Laloo Yadav, Paswan, Finance Minister P. Chidambaram, Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath, Social Justice Minister Meira Kumar and Communications Minister Dayanidhi Maran. The GOM has been given a mandate to initiate a dialogue with the industry to see how best the private sector can fulfill the aspirations of SC/ST youth. The same finds a mention in the UPA’s common minimum programme.The government had committed that it ‘‘will immediately initiate a national dialogue with all parties, industry and other organisations to see how best the private sector can fulfill the aspirations of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe youth’’.The GOM’s composition implies that Chidambaram and Kamal Nath would facilitate a dialogue with the corporate sector, while Paswan and Meira, being Dalits, would lend voice to the weaker sections. Paswan is also a leader of a coalition partner, Lok Janashakti Party. Pawar, president of the NCP, has the requisite political stature to head the body. Laloo and Maran represent important UPA components — RJD and DMK.Though the GOM has to initiate a dialogue with parties, it is unlikely to meet with any opposition. The UPA and the Left are committed to the CMP, while the BJP has been supportive of the idea, particularly since the 2000 National Council Session at Nagpur. SC/ST MPs belonging to all parties have been adopting resolutions in favour of private sector reservations since 1991. In fact, no major political party can afford to oppose the move and alienate Dalits and Adivasis.Paswan does not foresee much resistance from the industry either. Nor does he agree with the contention that reservations may scare away foreign investment. He said even US laws provided for reservation for blacks.
