By IANS
New Delhi : Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil Wednesday said the government was exploring ways for providing more reservation of seats for minorities in universities, colleges and in government jobs.
“Now there is a demand increasingly from minorities and Other Backward Classes (OBC) to see that seats are reserved in universities, colleges as well as government services. The question is can it be done? I think we have to apply our minds to this aspect and try to find out how it can be done in the best possible manner,” Patil said.
In its report, the Sachar Committee had pointed out that in the total of government 88,44,669 employees, the Muslims constituted a mere 4.9 per cent.
Patil insists that whatever can be done for this purpose should be done. “We cannot say it cannot be done. Human ingenuity can be used in order to help the people who should be helped in these areas. And that is the attitude of the government.”
The Sachar Committee, constituted by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in March 2005, found that Muslims lag behind on all socio-economic indices – such as education, health and employment – and made comprehensive recommendations for “setting the community on the road to progress”.
Minority Affairs Minister A.R. Antulay tabled a report in parliament in August last year, saying that the government had accepted all but three of the several recommendations and suggestions of the Sachar panel.
The government has already proposed to set up an Equal Opportunities Commission for the political involvement of the minorities at the grassroots.
The government also intends to set aside a portion of priority sector loans, especially in agriculture and industry, for minorities.
Public sector banks will open more branches in Muslim concentrated areas and 15 percent of the priority sector lending will go to Muslims in the next three years, according to government sources.
The union government also proposed to improve the basic amenities in 90 identified minority-concentrated districts and 338 towns spread across the country.