By Mumtaz Alam Falahi, TwoCircles.net,
Patna: Are Muslims facing discrimination in getting government job under the Nitish Kumar regime in Bihar as arguably they were in earlier regimes? The recent contractual appointment of over hundred mechanical engineers at the Water Resources Development department of Bihar may give the answer in positive. The department has selected the candidates for the post on contract basis.
The department on 4th July 2011 released a list of 113 newly appointed Jr. Engineers (Mechanical). There are just four Muslims among them. The reason could be many: There are not qualified Muslim candidates in good number; They are but not many applied for the post; Or qualified candidates from the Muslim community applied in good number for the post but as usual they faced discrimination and were not selected.
However, the point that there are not many qualified Muslim candidates may not hold ground. Bihar has eight engineering colleges including two Govt. colleges besides Patna IIT. Maulana Azad College of Engineering and Technology (MACET), Patna is among them. Very recently MACET was selected among the top 20 engineering colleges of Eastern India.
MACET started Mechanical branch in 1988 as it started four-year degree course after 10+2. Over 300 students have since cleared Mechanical course from MACET. It is a minority institute since last 23 years. The college is approved by AICTE, New Delhi, and affiliated to Magadh University, Bodh Gaya, Bihar.
Being a minority institution, one could assume the number of Muslims among the over 300 mechanical graduates. If one adds the number of minority students at other engineering colleges within Bihar and at various institutions outside including those in Delhi and Karnataka, the number of qualified minority candidates could go much up.
Full list of recently appointed Jr Engineers at Water Resource department.