Through a three-page office memo that invokes a 16-year-old official order, the Manmohan Singh government is putting in place what could be its first affirmative action policy when it comes to recruitment of minorities in government jobs.

On January 8, the Department of Personnel and Training sent a note to all “heads of departments, public sector banks and financial institutions, quasi-Government organisations, autonomous bodies etc. and all appointing authorities,” asking them to “scrupulously observe” guidelines to make selection panels more representative.

What is more important, the departments were told to submit half-yearly and annual reports, beginning this March, detailing number of vacancies at all levels — Groups A, B, C and D — and the number of minorities hired.

The significant point to note is that given the political sensitivity of the subject, the government has been careful to not single out Muslims (the context of the memo is the implementation of the 15-point programme for the welfare of minorities). Also, the Ministry, that comes directly under the Prime Minister’s charge, has attached an executive order issued in August 1990 by the same department, under a different dispensation — the V P Singh National Front government, supported by both the BJP and the Left.

That order, too, had the same guidelines although there was no stringent reporting requirement.

While reports from PSUs, banks and financial instruments are to be sent by Department of Public Enterprises and Economic Affairs respectively, the Home Ministry will furnish data on central police and paramilitary forces.

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