New Delhi : While the corporate sector has taken significant initiatives to promote gender equality at the workplace, more needs to be done to promote representation of LGBT community and people with disabilities (PWDs), Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, Mr Rattan Lal Kataria said at an ASSOCHAM event held in New Delhi today.

ÂI have no hesitation in stating that corporate sector is doing excellent work on the front of promoting gender equality at the workplace which is giving a boost to womenÂs participation in the workforce, said Mr. Kataria while inaugurating ASSOCHAM Conference-cum-Awards on Diversity and Inclusion.

He, however, added that apart from people with disabilities, the companies also need to promote representation of the LGBT community, weaker sections of society and create a conducive work environment.

ÂI urge the corporate sector to strengthen the participation of weaker sections of our society, which is also a part of governmentÂs agenda, stated Mr Kataria.

Lauding the governmentÂs efforts he said, ÂOur government is working pro-actively to promote diversity and inclusion, and recent reforms in IndiaÂs labor laws like maternity leave benefits together with the prevention of sexual harassment at the workplace and day-care facilities are landmark steps that were received very well and were welcomed across organizations.Â

He further said that the push for diversity and inclusion at the workplace has become increasingly vital for organisations in recent years, to the benefit of local talents and communities.

ÂIt is heartening to note that organisations are participating and taking initiatives by working at the ground level to help achieve the governmentÂs goals and objectives in this behalf, the Minister said.

Amid others who addressed the ASSOCHAM conference included: Mr Sunit Sinha, managing director, Accenture Strategy Talent & Organization; Ms Gayathri Ramamurthy, senior director, Lead-D&I, Capgemini India; Ms Rajyasree Sen, director, Global Communications, Hyatt India Consultancy Pvt. Ltd.; Mr Anil Rajput, chairperson, ASSOCHAM CSR Council and senior VP-Corporate Affairs, ITC Ltd.; Mr Ravi Bhatnagar, co-chair and director-External Affairs & Partnerships (AMESA), Reckitt Benckiser and Col Saurabh Sanyal, deputy secretary-general.