ABSTRACT
Against the background of the debate on the need for affirmative action and the discussion on the rules formulated for the implementation of the policy of supplier diversity (SD) in MP, it is now possible to examine the working of the two SD programmes, namely the ‘30 per cent’ supply and RDS policies in the state. By August 2002, the rules governing the SD policy and various schemes under it had been formulated and the first set of dalit/tribal entrepreneurs were awarded supply contracts. The BJP that came to power in 2003 has continued these policies with some changes. The policies have attracted a sufficiently large number of dalits/tribals, making an exploratory study of its working and its potential as an affirmative action programme, possible.
