Question : IMPACT OF DISINVESTMENT ON EMPLOYMENT

(a) whether the Government are aware of the adverse impact on the employment opportunity of persons belonging to scheduled castes and scheduled tribes and other deprived communities as a result of the disinvestment in the public sector;

(b) if so, whether any study has been made to assess the impact of disinvestment in public sector on the job prospects of the above said section of the population; and

(c) if so, the steps the Government propose to take to provide alternative sources of employment to the affected section of the population?

THE MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND MINISTER OF DISINVESTMENT (SHRI ARUN SHOURIE):

(a) There are currently no reports of any adverse impact on the employment opportunity of persons belonging to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and other deprived communities as a result of the disinvestment of Central PSUs.

(b) and (c) Government is committed to protect the interests of ail the workers including those belonging to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. With this a view, in the cases of disinvestment by Government through the strategic sale route resulting in Governments share holding going below 51%, the agreement between the Government and the Strategic Partner (SP) typically incorporates in the Recital that the SP recognize that the Government in relation to its employment policies follow certain principles for the benefit of the members of the Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes, physically handicapped persons and other socially disadvantaged categories of the society; that the SP shall use its best efforts to cause the Company to provide adequate job opportunities for such persons and that in the event of any reduction in the strength of the employees of the Company, the SP shall use its best efforts to ensure that the physically handicapped persons, Scheduled Castes/ Scheduled Tribes are retrenched at the end.