Ensure reservation for Dalits in private sector:

Virudhunagar: The Union government should enact a law for reservation in employment in the private sector for Dalits ahead of the 125{+t}{+h}birth anniversary of B. R. Ambedkar by convening a special session of Parliament, said the general secretary of Communist Party of India (Marxist), Sitaram Yechury, on Monday.

It was not enough that they enjoyed reservation in the government sector. Only reservation in the private sector, which was flourishing in a liberated economy, would prevent economic exploitation and social oppression of Dalits. Addressing a public meeting organised here to mark the second State conference of the Tamil Nadu Untouchability Eradication Front, Mr. Yechury said that untouchability remained a curse in society even after 60 years of independence. It would not be possible to utilise the skills of people fully without putting an end to caste oppression. Dalits should be developed economically by bringing to an end caste atrocities.

Saying caste-related issues had come to an end in neighbouring Kerala, he wondered why it should not be possible in Tamil Nadu. A developed India would be possible only with eradication of untouchability, he said. It was unfortunate that Dalits faced social oppression on the one side and economic exploitation on the other. The party would fight these issues together to bring about a change in the country. The amendments to labour welfare laws brought in by the Narendara Modi government would deprive workers even of their existing rights. It would drive them into the unorganised sector. The status of ordinary people had worsened with the government not being able to fulfil promises made to the electorate during the general election, he said.

Those who addressed the meeting included G. Ramakrishnan, secretary of the State unit, and U. Vasuki, vice-president, All India Democratic Women’s Association. P. Sampath, convenor, Tamil Nadu Untouchability Eradication Front, presided over the meeting.

Source: The Hindu