Question : RECRUITMENT OF MANAGEMENT TRAINEES

(a) whether recruitment of Management Trainees in various streams have been advertised by the Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd.;

(b) if so, whether it is a fact that minimum percentage of marks in the qualifying examination for advertised posts for Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes candidates is fifty five;

(c) if so, the reasons therefor;

(d) whether it will adversely affect the participation of candidates from these communities; and

(e) if so, the corrective steps proposed to be taken in this regard?

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (DR. SHAKEEL AHMAD)

(a) Yes, Sir.

(b) & (c) Yes, Sir. MTNL is operating in a highly competitive and skill intensive industry. To ensure world class service to our esteemed customers at competitive price, MTNL needs to have a cutting edge over their competitors-both in manpower as well as in technology. It is, therefore, a necessity for MTNL to acquire and retain quality manpower with good academic records.

In a similar exercise conducted in the year 2002, the response from reserved category candidates was encouraging. Moreover, the candidates belonging to SC and ST communities who joined service of MTNL secured more than 55% marks in their respective qualifying degrees except only one candidate each from both the communities. Therefore, MTNL has decided to specify at least 55% marks in the qualifying degree for SC, ST and PH candidates and 60% for all other category of candidates.

(d) & (e) No. Sir, in view of the past experience. However, in order to give maximum exposure of present recruitment to the candidates of SC and ST communities, MTNL has published advertisement in the dailies having maximum reach in the areas of such demographic characteristics.