By Darshan Desai, IANS,
New Delhi : The Central Government will form an ‘equal opportunities commission’ within the completion of 100 days in office, says Minister of State for Minority Affairs Salman Khurshid. The commission, vested with court-like powers to check discrimination based on sex, religion, caste, language etc, will instill among the citizens ‘a sense of equal rights and a share in the national cake’, Khurshid added.
The Ministry has chalked out a ‘focused multi-sectoral development plan’ as per the proposals of the Sachar Committee Report, and would be implemented in 90 districts each with a population of more than 25 percent Muslims. Social and economic indicators were also used to select the districts. These would be implemented by the State governments with central funds.
Mr. Khurshid also added that the Minority Affairs Ministry was not all about Muslims alone, but will have all of the country’s minorities covered by it. ‘It needs proper direction; minority affairs has a lot of potential’, he added
People can approach the equal opportunities commission in cases of denial of benefits because of sex, religion, caste, race, birthplace, language, descent etc. The commission with statutory status will act as a common forum, where people from all walks of life could approach for the redressal of their grievances. It won’t be a commission of only minorities and backward classes alone.
Nor is the commission going to be a sheer grievance cell, it would have enormous powers, says Khurshid. It would act as a civil court, able to conduct socio-legal audits and have the power to inspect and penalize those not following the guidelines. It would also be entitled to summon anyone and conduct an investigation in public and private sector organizations.
The commission would be comprised of a chairperson and two deputies, all from different walks of life, but ‘with the seniority and authority comparable to High Curt and Supreme Court judges’. Regional commissions would be formed all over the country.
According to Khurshid, such a commission was necessary in the country since many people were suffering unequal treatment. Consultations are under way with different ministries regarding the formation of the commission. The commission is expected to be formed very soon.
(Darshan Desai can be contacted at [email protected])