Express News Service By

HYDERABAD: Implementing reservations for Dalits in private sector is the only way to ensure equality guaranteed by the Constitution, CPM general secretary Sitaram Yechury has said. Private sector which holds majority of jobs is still in the hands of upper castes and Dalits are often discriminated in the sector. Only reservation in the private sector would prevent economic exploitation and social oppression of Dalits, he said.

Speaking at a workshop on ‘Right to reservations in private sector as a human right,’ here on Monday, Yechury said around 93 percent of labourers in India are in the private sector and only 7 percent of them are organised labourers. When such huge number of manpower is concentrated in the private sector, the reservations provided by the Constitution must also be applied there, he said.

Yechury demanded the Central government to call a special session of Parliament to discuss the issues related to Dalits including reservations for them in private sector. If the government proposes a bill in this regard, CPM will support it, he said. “We have already written to the Prime Minister to take the initiative for the special session, but we are yet to receive any response,” he added.

The demand for reservations in private sector was raised by the CPM in the past too. On Monday, the Private Reservation Porata Sangam (PRPS) and the Osmania University Post Graduate College of Law jointly organised the workshop to highlight the demand ahead of the upcoming parliament winter session.

Kaki Madhava Rao, former Chief Secretary to Andhra Pradesh government, who was also present at the programe, felt that the privatisation of education is reducing opportunities for Dalits. He said the state governments should take an initiative towards implementing reservations in private sector.

Prof. Gali Vinod Kumar, Principal, OU PG Law College, former High Court judge, Justice Chandra Kumar, CPI leader, Chada Venkata Reddy were also present at the programme.