Tags:
Journalism of Courage
Congress president Sonia Gandhi has asked party-ruled state governments to begin talks with the private sector for setting aside seats for weaker sections of society.
In a letter to all party CMs, Sonia said they should begin a ‘‘purposeful dialogue’’ with the private sector for giving jobs to Dalits, SCs, STs, BCs and OBCs.
The talks should be focussed on ‘‘how best India’s social diversity could be reflected in the private sector in different ways like reservations and fiscal incentives…’’
Sonia also states she would be personally monitoring progress made by each state on these issues, which were outlined in the Shimla Sankalp.
She states that wherever privatisation is ‘‘inevitable,’’ the chief ministers must find out how it ‘‘can protect the welfare of the weaker sections of society’’.
The letter adds the states must decide how ‘‘government procurement can promote entrepreneurship among Dalits and Adivasis’’.
This also reflects the party’s attempt to repackage the Manmohan Singh reforms with more focus on state intervention in employment generation.
The party had also worked out incentives, including tax holidays, that the government can offer the private sector that provides reservation for weaker sections.
