The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), one of the apex industry chambers that charted out a detailed code of conduct to increase scheduled caste (SC) / scheduled tribe (ST) representation among their member companies, has decided to shelve the idea of setting up an Ombudsman to address employee concerns and oversee implementation of the affirmative action policy. It is reported that the chamber has scrapped the idea as an Ombudsman would have to be a quasi-judicial body and would be working somewhat like a court, hearing out employees’ problems and suggesting remedial measures for companies to consider. Instead of an Ombudsman, the new idea floated is to have a special cell in the CII to serve as a hotline for staff who feel discriminated against.

Almost 1,000 companies have accepted the code of conduct over the past year. But as the entire process of affirmative action is meant to be voluntary, the chamber feels that the introduction of an Ombudsman would usher legal complexities.

Speaking to The Indian Express, Tata Sons director J J Irani, who headed the CII-ASSOCHAM task force to draw up an action plan on affirmative action, said that the Confederation of Indian Industry is “going slow” on the plans for an Ombudsman. Instead, the current idea is to have a special cell in the CII, which would serve as a hotline for employees who feel discriminated against. All major industry chambers have opposed the introduction of any law that requires companies to have reservations/ quotas for increased SC/ ST representation in the private sector. Chambers such as CII and ASSOCHAM have charted out a code of conduct on affirmative action that member companies can adopt on a “voluntary” basis. The concept of having an Ombudsman was seen as a measure to give some assurance to the government that India Inc was serious in implementing the affirmative action policy.

... contd.