Government wants affirmative action on reservation in the private sector, says Law Minister M Veerappa Moily who sees nothing wrong in trying out the US model on this issue.

"It (affirmative action) will be across the country and for everyone. In the 1960s, America introduced the concept of equal opportunity and they have the Equality Act.

Similarly, we want to have affirmative action here in the private sector," Moily told the 'Outlook' magazine.

According to him, industries in both rural and urban areas will have to introduce quota. "There's no urban-rural divide. The multinationals are following this concept of affirmative action in America for many decades and doing well.

I don't see any reason for not trying it out in our country."

The minister was of the view that reservation per se will not do corporates any harm. "There is a concept called corporate social responsibility. Corporates must identify the importance of equal opportunity. They must recognise talent and reward it and also encourage others to come forward."

Moily contended that good business means equal opportunity for everyone. "Keeping a class away is not good even for the private sector," he said.

The minister, however, made it clear that no proposal was being considered "as of now" for reservation in the higher judiciary. "Reservation in the judiciary is initiated at the lower level. As of now, there is no such plan for the higher judiciary," he said.