New Delhi, July 13 (IANS) Corporate Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid Monday said the existing Companies Act did not empower the government to ask the private sector for providing minorities with jobs.
“Despite this, the government has started the process of developing a common perspective on the issue of voluntary affirmative action by the corporate sector,” Khurshid said in a written reply to Rajya Sabha.

The government will, however, look at providing minorities special consideration in central police forces, railways, nationalised banks and public sector enterprises, the minister had said earlier in his reply in the Lok Sabha.

In a recent interaction with the representatives of the corporate sector, Khurshid had said he was not in favour of mandatory reservation in the private sector, and that the government’s thrust on inclusive growth will comprehensively address the larger issue of affirmative action.