New Delhi, Dec 12 (IANS): Industry bodies have taken a slew of steps to provide Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) candidates job opportunities in the private sector, the Rajya Sabha was informed Thursday.

The steps taken by the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) include setting up an affirmative action council which has identified employability, entrepreneurship, education and employment as its core areas of work, Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Manikrao Hodlya Gavit said in a written reply.

The CII has also trained 1,26,032 candidates from Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in various vocational skills and begun midday meal programmes for them in backward districts of the country.

The Associated Chamber of Commerce and Industries has imparted skill upgradation training to 1,519 SC, ST students and provided 100 scholarships to them for studying in premier institutions.

The government had set up a coordination committee under the chairmanship of the principal secretary to the prime minister in 2006 to carry forward the dialogue with industry on affirmative action, including reservation for SC/STs in the private sector, the minister said.

The coordination committee is serviced by the department of industrial policy and promotion. It has been holding meetings with the chambers from time to time.