Expressing reservations over the government move for job quota in the private sector, NASSCOM, the apex body of the IT software and services industry, said on Tuesday the best way to end discrimination was to raise the ability of the disadvantaged sections to compete.
Speaking to reporters in Bangalore, NASSCOM president Kiran Karnik did not favour the idea of offering some sops or 'baits' to the private sector to agree to reservation, saying they might be 'marginally useful but I don't think we should go in that direction.'
Karnik said there was a genuine need to 'do something' to those who were 'historically disadvantaged' not only by the government but also by the industry. The outcome of such effort should be to make them come into society so that there was no discrimination.
"We feel the best way of doing that is to raise their ability to compete rather than creating some kind of a special thing and saying you are giving something special which, in a sense, separates and makes feel something second class."
The government and the industry, he said, had a role and responsibility and the best way to do that was through right education and training."Both could come together intensively, in a proper professional way" and "we will see some impact which, might not have been seen in the last 60 years. We have had reservation."
On the view that the private sector should be offered 'bait' like in the form of tax incentives to make them agree to reservation, he said, "those sort of things are marginally useful. I don't think we should go in that direction."
Do you want to discuss stock tips? Do you know a hot one? Join the Stock Market Investments Discussion Group
More from rediff