Two prominent industry chambers Ficci and Assocham have appointed ombudsman to monitor the progress made by private sector in implementing affirmative action for the uplift of poor and socially backward.

Industry associations said this at a review meeting chaired by TKA Nair, principal secretary to prime minister, a PMO statement said.

So far more than 1,500 companies in private sector have adopted a voluntary code of conduct for implementation of affirmative action. The new guidelines incorporates four points, employability, education, entrepreneurship development, and employment among backward community.

According to industry chambers, around 1,12,702 persons have benefitted from the new guidelines in recent times. While CII plans to adopt the district of Nawashahar in Punjab and Cooch Behar in west Bengal, Ficci has adopted Sonb-hadra in UP for implementation of new programme.

At present nearly 20 per cent employees in CII member companies are scheduled castes and scheduled tribes. The new programme will focus on skill development and livelihood promotion for disadvantaged population in these districts.

Ficci, CII and Assocham have adopted 559 ITIs between themselves.