Nitish Kumar spoke in favour of 50 per cent job reservation in the private sector on the basis of caste, and called for a debate at the national level.
In Bihar, he has introduced a caste-based quota in outsourced jobs, which has been called a ‘backdoor entry’ for private sector reservations. Uday Narayan Choudhary, a JD-U leader, has questioned the legality of private sector reservations.
Is Nitish Kumar’s proposal for caste-based quotas in the private sector a feasible idea?
Chandra Bhan Prasad
Dalit entrepreneur and author
“To enforce job quota in private sector is problematic. A voluntary exercise on the part of the India Inc. would be fine. India Inc., however, has always feared that the once Dalits/Adivasis are given preferences, others will follow suit.”
Founder, Dalit Indian Chamber of Commerce & Industry
“This issue has been debated and discussed since the 2000s, but we will have to see what tangible action is taken on ground.”
Co-author of Indianomix
“If private sector reservations ever happen, it will be a recipe for not achieving our growth aspirations.”
Writer, civil rights activist, senior professor of Goa Institute of Management
“Nitish Kumar finds himself in a fix as he ditched the backward class constituency by jumping onto the BJP bandwagon.”
Social policy analyst on gender and caste issues
“Whether this is feasible or not depends on the political will of the governments. It is a globally proven fact that institutions with greater diversity are more successful and innovative and endure longer.”