Indian Journal of Industrial Relations: Economics & Social Dev.

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Is Affirmative Action Policy for Private Sector Necessary?


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1 Centre for Economic Studies & Policy, Institute for Social & Economic Change, Nagrabhavi (PO), Bangalore 5600 72, India
     

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While, from the very beginning, other countries have used various affirmative action policies in both public and private sectors, India confined such a policy only to the state and public sectors and excluded the vast private sector. This paper examines the issues involved in the extension of affirmative action policy to the private sector in India. In the light of empirical findings and international experience, the paper suggests that the government could enact the 'Equal Opportunity Laws' to provide legal safeguards against discrimination and proceed with the effective implementation of the recent initiative by the Ministry of Minority Affairs' Diversity Index. The incentive based system linked to Diversity seems to be a longterm and more efficient solution to ensure that the marginalized social groups will get a larger share in the private sector.
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  • Is Affirmative Action Policy for Private Sector Necessary?

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Authors

S. Madheswaran
Centre for Economic Studies & Policy, Institute for Social & Economic Change, Nagrabhavi (PO), Bangalore 5600 72, India

Abstract


While, from the very beginning, other countries have used various affirmative action policies in both public and private sectors, India confined such a policy only to the state and public sectors and excluded the vast private sector. This paper examines the issues involved in the extension of affirmative action policy to the private sector in India. In the light of empirical findings and international experience, the paper suggests that the government could enact the 'Equal Opportunity Laws' to provide legal safeguards against discrimination and proceed with the effective implementation of the recent initiative by the Ministry of Minority Affairs' Diversity Index. The incentive based system linked to Diversity seems to be a longterm and more efficient solution to ensure that the marginalized social groups will get a larger share in the private sector.

References