Norms may be eased to hire minorities in Central government departments

New Delhi: Concerned with meagre representation of minorities, especially Muslims in recruitment within Central Government departments including public sector undertakings (PSUs), the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) through the Department of Personnel is trying to give special consideration to them during the hiring process.

As an effort to improve minority communities’ recruitment numbers in Central Government departments and institutions, the budgetary allocation of the NDA Government’s New 15-point Programme could witness an enhancement in the forthcoming Union Budget for 2016-17, sources indicated.

The Government’s concern has mainly been driven by the paltry number of recruitements of minority communities in Central Government ministries, public sector banks, PSUs, railways as well as the postal department over the past few years.

Sources said though the Government does not maintain any segregated data on recruitment based on religion, the overall numbers are not quite encouraging, and this has renewed efforts within the Government to renew focus on the issue.