By TCN News,
Hyderabad: A state-level seminar on the recommendations, implications and implementation status of Sachar Committee & Ranganath Mishra Commission reports and PM’s New 15-Point Program for Minorities was held on 1st February 2011.in Hyderabad. The house agreed to represent to the government and concerned departments for implementation of the minority welfare schemes.
COVA (Confederation of Voluntary Associations) in association with Centre for Study of Society and Secularism (CSSS), Mumbai organized had organized the seminar. Elected People’s Representatives, Academicians and Social Activists were invited to speak on the subjects and to share their knowledge and experiences with the concerned citizens and Activists working on Social change in the society.
Giving context of the seminar Dr. Mazher Hussain, Executive Director, COVA said that after partition of the country Muslims were with a guilt syndrome: after creation of Pakistan for Muslims whether they have a right to live in this country. There was no assertion from the Muslims for their rights but for security. The agenda of security for Muslims in post-Independence had been encashed by politicians. Muslims were asking for protection and independence in respect to running of their own educational institutions. Now for more than two decades the scenario has totally changed. New generation do not have concern for Pakistan and assertion for rights necessitated governments to form commissions to look into the problems and to resolve issues of Muslim community. He also expressed need to reach out to the majority community to sensitize them to create empathy for Muslims so that the majority shall not have a feel of appeasement, to avoid conflict on these issues and to evolve a concrete plan of action.
Present situation of Muslims in India
Dr. Asghar Ali Engineer, Chairman, CSSS focused on the present situation of Muslims in India and said that post independence due to victimization of communal attacks Muslims did neither assert nor could participate in active politics. Majority of Zamindar and middle class families migrated to Pakistan in the hope of education with improvement of economy. The Jabalpur riots of 1961 had shaken even the then Prime Minister Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru as he was convinced till then that the issue of communalism has been resolved whereas the ground reality was different. That situation was beyond the control of Nehru that brought on the front the issue of security. He referred to number of riots during 60’s to 90’s and finally Advani’s Rath Yathra paving way to demolition of Babri Masjid that polarized communal frenzy against Muslims; further the Gujarat pogrom in 2002 gave way to reactionary forces to take advantage of the situation. The mindset of politicians and bureaucrats, riots and atrocities on Muslims with the complicity of States dragged the community into backwardness.
Now after the issue of security the States have concentrated on economic growth and welfare of the minority community as awareness amongst Muslims enhanced tremendously. Many commissions were formed but the political and the bureaucratic mindset did not allow happening anything in favour of Muslims. There are no controversies in the Sachar Committee reports. We are a secular country with different minorities. We should join together with majority to form a joint strategy, club recommendations of the three commissions/committees.
Mr. Aziz Pasha, Member of Parliament at his inaugural address agreeing to the caution given to the minorities by Dr. Asghar Ali Engineer said that we have to ensure that our hasty approach does not become counterproductive and should not give benefit to (BJP) the people who are against the recommendations of the commissions and committees for welfare of minorities. He said that the situation of Muslims in urban areas is worst than of the Dalits. In different phases implementing the orders of 1950 of the President of India, Hindus, Sikhs and then Buddhists have been included for the privileges but not Muslims. BJP in the Parliament warned the government of bloodshed in the event of approval to the reports and Government Pleaders are taking time, time and again adopting delaying tactics. He emphasized that Muslims and Christians should also get reservations on par with other dalits. Only 50% of the allocated budget for minorities is being utilized. Only 0.3% provision is available for minority welfare but utilization is not crossing to 0.15%. He seconded to the suggestion of Dr. Asghar Ali Engineer to involve Muslim religious leaders in enhancing awareness amongst Muslims to avail benefits of welfare schemes introduced by the governments. Governments have constituted committees in each district for implementation of 15 point P.M.’s Program. Member of Parliaments are members of these committees headed by the respective Collectors. Complete information of this program has to reach to people for proper implementation.
Sardar Nanak Singh Nishtar giving his presidential remarks in the inaugural session said that after warning by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar only Buddhists were given reservations. Muslims were ignored and Sikhs were informed that no special privileges will be given to them. He said that Minorities in Pakistan have been special privileges but we cannot expect such facilities in our country. Commissions are constituted as formality and to exploit for vote bank.
Ranganath Mishra Commission Report
Dr. Najiullah, Asst. Professor, Dept. of Pol. Sc. & Public Admn. MANUU shared salient features of the Ranganath Mishra Commission and suggested that opinion should be mobilized to include other unreserved communities for extending 15% reservation which can be acceptable to all. Dr. Manatosh Mandal highlighted major draw backs of the recommendations and to address to these issues for proper implementation of the recommendations. Dr. Aariz Mohammed, Director, Centre for Social Justice introducing himself as an activist said that except a few MPs like Mr. Aziz Pasha and Mr. Anwar, others Muslim MPs did not support his movement in formation of commissions and tabling their reports in Parliament. Prof. M.S. Shaukat Hayat, Dean, Faculty of Arts, Dr BRAOU, Hyderabad gave his presidential remarks.
Sachar Committee Report
Dr. P.H. Mohammed, Associate Professor, Centre for the Study of Social Exclusion and Inclusive Policy, MANUU presented salient features of the Sachar Committee Report. Prof. Javeed Alam, Chairman, ICSSR, New Delhi in his address said that Muslim community is very backward and oppressed in the world. There is a need of common block of the oppressed to look into the backwardness. Inequalities persist with respect to the basic facilities for Muslims. The 91 districts with 25% Muslim population are in neglect on the count of education, health and potential development. There is a need for mass action and to mount pressure on the governments.
PM’s New 15-Point Program
Dr. Abdul Qaiyum, Head, Department of Public Administation, MANUU presented the salient features of P.M.’s New 15 Point Program and said that these welfare schemes are connected with more than 15 departments and require wide and proper publicity for utilization of the schemes.
Mr. M.A. Khan, Member of Parliament said that he is the member of 3 districts viz. Hyderabad, Nalgonda and Warangal for implementation of 15 point P.M.’s program. The implementation of schemes is not as per expectations in A.P. Access to justice for minorities will be possible only with the change of mindset of police and bureaucrats who have a perception of Muslims as violent because they are meat eaters. During the NDA regime, the governments did mass recruitment of RSS cadre candidates in police and education. Their secular credentials were not scrutinized. These people targeted minorities especially Muslims and prevented implementation of the welfare schemes meant for them. Subtle percentage also has to be worked out for implementation of the schemes in right earnest. There is a need to appoint a nodal officer in each district and to disseminate information of the welfare schemes at grass root. The public representatives have to take interest in implementation of the schemes. Dr. Shahida, Head Department of Women Education, MANUU in her presidential remarks specially drawn attention to the neglect of women.
Mr. Syed Amir Jafferi, Member of Legislative Council, Andhra Pradesh said that Smt. Indira Gandhi, the then Prime Minister realizing the need to provide security and empowerment to the minorities had initiated 15 point program later Mr. Rajiv Gandhi as Prime Minister took initiative to address to the issue of inequalities of minorities, focused on giving more opportunities in government and public sector employment. UPA government in 2004 introduced the same scheme under Common Minimum Program. He said there is no constitutional ceiling of 50% reservations. The Supreme Court has drawn the line. He said in Tamil Nadu has given reservations above 75%. This 15 point program is additional to other welfare schemes. The UPA government has enhanced the number of minority concentration districts to 122 to fulfill the promise given in their manifesto.
In the presidential remarks, Prof. Vinod K. Jairath, Head, Dept of Sociology, Hyderabad Central University said that reasons for backwardness of minorities have to be studied. The stereotypes about minorities especially about Muslims, prevailing in the society is shocking to find that Muslims and non-Muslims are at loss. Long term efforts are required for changing mindset of people thinking differently. He said that employment opportunities for Muslims have to be ensured both in government and private sector. The minorities also need Guarantee of enhancement in political participation.
Future Action
The house agreed to involve Civil Society Organisations to act upon the following points, represent to the government and concerned departments for implementation of the schemes:
Reasons for backwardness of minorities to be studied and shared with majority community. To constitute a common block of the oppressed to look into the backwardness.
The stereotypes about minorities especially about Muslims need to be addressed. Long term efforts are required for changing mindset of people thinking differently.
Employment opportunities for Muslims have to be ensured both in government and private sector.
The minorities also need Guarantee of enhancement in political participation.
In order to avoid conflict on these issues, to reach out to the majority community to sensitize them to create empathy for Muslims and other minorities so that the majority shall not have a feel of appeasement, and to evolve a concrete plan of action.
To club together recommendations of the three commissions/committees and join together with majority to form a joint strategy.
To ensure that hasty approach does not become counterproductive and should not give benefit to people who are against implementation.
To work for Reservations for Muslims and Christians on par with other dalits.
Propagation of Schemes Involving Muslim religious leaders.
Information of the District Level Committees for Implementation of 15 point program to be made public and Chairman of the Committee (District Collector) and MPs, who are the Members on the Committees, should be pressurized for implementation.
To collect expert opinion on inclusion of other unreserved communities for extending 15% reservation which can be acceptable to all.
Mr. Mohammed Turab, Executive Secretary, COVA gave vote of thanks to Chairs, speakers for their time and participation, CSSS for providing this opportunity.