With elections drawing close, the government is convening a meeting with the three apex chambers?Confederation of Industry (CII), Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham) and Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Ficci) regarding the affirmative action (AA) to be taken for the SC/ST in the private sector.
The meeting is likely to be held on February 9 by the depatment of industrial policy and promotion (DIPP) with the representatives of Indian Inc.
According to sources, the meeting has been convened to ensure that the private sector sets up manufacturing units with specific emphasis for creation of employment for the SC/ STs in districts that are SC/ST dominated. Some of these areas are Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Orrisa, West Bengal, Madhya-Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, and the North-East. It would also discuss the incentive scheme for the SC/ST and the impact on industrialisation of backward districts.
The government has been mulling the allocation of incentives to India Inc for setting up manufacturing units in far-flung areas having thick SC/ST population. These incentives include income-tax benefits, excise duty waiver, sales tax holiday scheme.
Those likely to attend the meeting include, Subas Pani, secretary, Planning Commission, Sudha Pillai, secretary, labour and employment ministry, Chandrajit Banerjee, director general, CII, DS Rawat, secretary general, Assocham, Amit Mitra, secretary general, Ficci.