In their initiative to take affirmation action to ensure employment of the weaker section in the private sector, the Union government is creating a mechanism of ‘voluntary disclosure’ by the corporate and private sector for Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST) and other weaker sections.

At present, under the provisions of the Constitution, reservation in employment and education for SCs, STs and Other Backward Classes (OBCs) is only applicable to the public sector undertakings, and public and private educational institutions. While there has been a demand for job reservation of such sections, the same has not evoked a very positive response from the private and corporate sector and therefore the government has decided to step in to encourage intake of weaker sections in the private sector as well.