CPI(M) Calls for Extension of Reservations to Organised Private Sector

Madurai: The 24th Congress of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has adopted a major political resolution demanding that reservation policies for Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), and Other Backward Classes (OBCs) be extended to the organised private sector. The party stated that social discrimination and economic exclusion remain rampant and that affirmative action must expand beyond government employment to address the deeply entrenched caste-based inequalities in India.
The resolution asserts that the caste system continues to deny marginalised communities access to land, property, and various occupations, while also restricting educational opportunities, which collectively contribute to long-term economic exclusion.
“Reservations in jobs have emerged as the most important policy instrument against this exclusion,” the party noted, citing constitutional provisions under Articles 15(4), 16(4), 46, and 335 that provide the basis for such affirmative action. However, these provisions currently apply only to government jobs—a sphere that has drastically contracted in recent years.
The resolution points to persistent under-implementation of existing reservation policies even within the public sector. As of 2023, over 10 lakh central government posts remained vacant, with a significant proportion belonging to reserved categories. Public sector undertakings and state government departments have shown similar trends.
Highlighting the broader context of shrinking government employment, the party said that public sector jobs fell from approximately 2 crore in the 1990s to 1.7 crore by 2012—a decline of 30 lakh jobs. Since the Modi government assumed office, the decline has steepened further, though the party accused the government of suppressing comprehensive data on the matter.
Employment in public sector banks dropped from over 10 lakh in the 1990s to 7.5 lakh in 2024. Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) witnessed a 35 per cent fall in jobs since 2014, amounting to a reduction of 4.5 lakh jobs. The Railways lost 80,000 jobs, the Department of Posts 40,000, and public sector banks another 90,000 jobs during the same period.
Most of these job losses have occurred in Group C and Group D categories—traditionally the biggest avenues of employment for marginalised communities. Between 2014-15 and 2022-23, Group C and D jobs accounted for 86 per cent of central government job losses, the resolution claimed.
CPI(M) further highlighted the explosion of contract-based and outsourced jobs in public institutions. “Outsourcing of work, sourcing of staff through private contractors and companies, and deployment of contractual staff has become rampant,” the resolution said.
Privatisation in education has also led to diminished opportunities for SC/ST teachers. In 2023-24, only 7.7 per cent of school teachers were from ST communities and 12.6 per cent from SCs. Private schools were worse, with SC/ST representation among teachers at just 13 per cent.
The resolution criticises the absence of reservations in employment generated through public funds in schemes involving private companies. The 2024 Union Budget allocated Rs 1.73 lakh crore for a range of employment-linked schemes involving 500 private companies and 20 lakh interns—but without any mandated quotas for SCs, STs or OBCs.
The party condemned the neoliberal policy framework, stating that privatisation, contractualisation, and informalisation of employment have collectively undermined the reach and impact of reservation policies. “Privatisation and contractualisation are at the core of neoliberal policies… eroding the reach of reservations as a tool for affirmative action,” the resolution said.
The 24th Congress of the CPI(M) has strongly urged the extension of reservation policies to the organised private sector and all registered institutions, including private companies. The party argues that this is essential to combat caste-based discrimination and ensure inclusive economic growth.