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A Group of Ministers (GoM) on Dalit Affairs is actively considering a proposal to make 30 per cent purchases through entrepreneurs belonging to SC/ST categories in a bid to financially empower them. "The GoM headed by Pranab Mukherjee met recently and discussed the issue. It is under active consideration of the GoM to make 30 per cent Central Government purchases through entrepreneurs belonging to SC/ST," Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan, a member of the GoM, said in New Delhi on 19 October 2006. Paswan, who is also the chief of Lok Janshakti Party, said unless effective marketing of the goods manufactured by the SC/ST was accomplished, their financial lot would not improve. Besides, it would generate gainful employment. The recommendations, according to sources, were made by the GoM based on preferential procurement policy of Madhya Pradesh Government, the first such measure adopted in the country by any State. The GoM, also comprising Rural Development Minister Raghuvansh Prasad Singh and Small-Scale Industries Minister Mahabir Prasad, was also considering to declare a village with over 40 per cent Dalit population as "Prime Minister's Ideal Village" with all facilities including health, education, drinking water and electricity, Paswan said. Under the scheme, he said there would be a residential middle school for every three village panchayats, each block to have a residential high school and each district would have a Navodaya residential college for Dalits only. On the 30 per cent purchases through SC/ST entrepreneurs, sources said the GoM had directed the Ministry of Small-Scale Industries to draft a statutory procurement policy to make "preferential purchases" from SC/ST traders and suppliers mandatory by the government. The recommendation assumes significance as it came in the backdrop of growing demand for reservation in the private sector and the private industry putting its foot down saying such a measure would compromise its competitive edge. Although Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Meira Kumar has held several rounds of talks with industry captains to persuade them about the need for reservation in the private sector, they are merely ready for "certain affirmative action" restricted to training and scholarships to those belonging to Dalits. (Source: The Hindu)
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