India Inc Opposed To Reservation In Private Sector: Assocham 

New Delhi: India Inc is opposed to any move to bring in reservation in the private sector as it would certainly create a big dent in the country's investment climate and negate the perception advantage given by a jump in the World Bank ease of doing business index, a top industry body said on Monday.

"At a time when the Indian economy is seeking positive triggers for growth revival, any political narrative on reservation in the private sector would bring in a big blow. The industry is already tackling the challenges from the roll out of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) along with the short-term demonetisation impact," Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham) Secretary General D. S. Rawat said. "The political parties should rather focus on creating an environment that helps such an economic pace that millions of jobs are created both in the public and private sectors and are urged to avoid sending wrong signals to the global and domestic investors," he added. Rawat said, in any case, there is a dearth of private sector investment with capacity utilisation in several sectors not going beyond 72-75 per cent. On top of it, if the political economy of the country is geared to populist sentiments, the environment for growth could be vitiated badly.

"Assocham has always been pressing for the affirmative action by the industries for the economically weaker sections of the society. In fact, there is a somewhat similar sentiment across the entire India Inc which has been contributing a lot to the nation building and economic growth. We have been asking our members to give preference in recruitment to the local candidates, train them, skill them and keep in mind the affirmative aspect," he said. "India is a key destination for top global corporations doing cross border businesses. All efforts must be made to make the business environment friendly here," he added. He cautioned that the states should rather focus on removing the bureaucratic bottlenecks for the industry and trade.

"The industry is willing to engage with the government both at the Centre and states for projects in skill development, training and hiring so that those at the bottom of the economic pyramid are hand held and upscaled," Assocham said in a statement. "But any move towards reservation in private sector would be regressive," the chamber said.