Updated on Monday, May 22, 2006, 00:00 IST

New Delhi, May 22: Even as the quota storm shows no sign of dying down, the government today clearly indicated that it was not ready to relent on the issue. Rather, the Centre has given a two-year deadline to the private sector to introduce reservations for the backward classes. The government may even bring in a law to that effect if the companies fail to do so.

This was informed by Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Meira Kumar today.

She hinted that the Centre was also working on a package to provide incentives, including tax concessions, for encouraging private companies to set up industries and creating employment in districts where a large number of population is Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Castes.

However, the private sector has already opposed quota for the backward classes.

The doctors’ strike entered the ninth day today.

Bureau Report