Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1997, published 86th ILC session (1998)

The Committee notes that the Government's report of January 1996 contains no reply to its comments. It hopes that the next report will include information on the matters raised in its previous direct request, which read as follows:

1. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government in response to its previous request for details on the measures taken to assist the socio-economic development of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. In particular, it notes that there was a substantial increase in the flow of development funds for this purpose, which resulted in the expansion of infrastructural facilities. The Committee also notes that the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Development Corporations in the States continued to provide economic assistance for self-employed projects; and that economic assistance was given to 12 million Scheduled Caste families and to 5.3 million Scheduled Tribe families under various programmes, including the Integrated Rural Development Programme. In relation to entry into the public services of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, the Committee notes that 8,000 seats were created in 101 pre-examination training centres, where coaching was given to candidates for the public service competitive examinations. According to the Government, these measures have increased the representation of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in the central government services and public sector undertakings over the years. The Committee also notes with interest the measures being taken to produce educational materials in various dialects. It requests the Government to continue to supply information on the measures taken, and results obtained, to further the employment opportunities of these groups.

2. With reference to its previous request concerning the measures taken to increase and improve women's employment opportunities through skill upgrading, group organization and involvement in decision-making, the Committee notes from the report the wide range of functions of the National Commission for Women, set up in January 1992. The Committee hopes that the Government will furnish the first annual report of the Commission, which was being printed at the time the Government's report was submitted. Noting that the Commission has authority to recommend rehabilitation and improvements for women kept in custody, the Committee requests the Government to indicate whether, in this respect, the Commission will coordinate any activities in the employment sphere with those of the National Expert Committee on Women Prisoners, on which the Government has reported. The Committee requests the Government to indicate whether the National Commission for Women has assumed any of the functions of the National Commission on Self-Employed Women, which does not exist at the moment. Please also indicate whether any action was taken to implement the recommendations of the National Commission on Self-Employed Women by state governments and other concerned agencies which were sent the recommendations for action. The Committee requests the Government to furnish with its next report copies of any national report on the status of Indian women, which might have been prepared for the Fourth World Conference on Women, held in Beijing in September 1995.

3. The Committee has noted with interest the information provided on the number of Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) created exclusively for women, which rose from 355 in 1991 to 370 in 1992-93. It further notes that, under a World Bank project, 100 new ITIs for women have been set up at the state level and that new trades are being introduced in 64 existing ITIs functioning under the control of state governments. The Committee also notes with interest that, in line with the Central Apprenticeship Council's policy to increase the number of women candidates, there has been an increase of women in all categories of apprentices from 4,945 to 7,450 in one year. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on these and other measures being taken to increase the productive capacity of women and disadvantaged groups.

4. Further to its previous comment concerning tripartite cooperation in promoting the national policy on equality, the Committee notes that all vocational training programmes, including those for women, are carried out on the recommendations of the apex-level tripartite body, the National Council for Vocational Training. The Government also refers to the Central Apprenticeship Council, a statutory apex-level body, which comprises representatives of employers' and workers' organizations, and whose function is to make recommendations concerning training under the Apprentices Act. The Committee hopes that the Government will provide information on the other areas pertinent to the implementation of the Convention, in which tripartite cooperation takes place.