If this year, it was OBC quotas in higher education that kept the social and political pots simmering, affirmative action in private sector jobs is going to be the next test of wills.

Aware of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s refrain that the government would not like to impose a law if there was voluntary movement on this, India Inc has drawn up a detailed plan that includes a written affirmative action policy, grooming of entrepreneurs, setting up coaching centres to help Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe students and scholarships in IIT and IIMs.

Beginning the first week of January, it has also decided to set up an Ombudsman to oversee the implementation of its affirmative action policy and serve as a “hotline” for employees who feel discriminated against.

Industry sources told The Sunday Express that as many as 300 companies, including Hindustan Lever, Thermax, Tata Ryerson, Bajaj Auto, Crompton & Greaves, have not only accepted the code of conduct on the basis of the J J Irani committee report but these companies have also agreed to a set of milestones they say they are willing to implement during the first year’s commitment on affirmative action.

The key points of the code of conduct which these companies have “voluntarily” signed on”:

• A written policy statement on affirmative action in the workplace

• Selection of business partners not based on any considerations other than normal business parameters. But in case of equal business offers, the company will select a business partner belonging to a socially disadvantaged section of society

... contd.