By Zaidul Haque, TwoCircles.net,
Kolkata: With change of guard, not always changes the ground. The 34-yr regime of Left Front has gone. They could not fully implement their own 10% Muslim quota. A new government has come with new ideology – social as well as political. Yet, the quota continues to be implemented half-heartedly. Not in even a single recruitment drive in last one and half months Muslims have been given full 10% seats. In fact, it hardly crossed even half mark.
Recently, the West Bengal government has recruited 3142 people of various grades, only 126 i.e. 4% are Muslims.
Justice Sachar report showed the poor condition of Muslims in every sphere of life in West Bengal, be it education or job. The Left Front Govt rejected the Sachar report saying it is not the actual position of Muslims in West Bengal. Mamata Banerjee, Trinamool Congress leader and now Chief Minister, then vowed if she came to power she will take extra care of the Muslim.
Recently Govt of West Bengal recruited 3142 persons, among them only 126 i.e. 4% are Muslims. Sachar Committee also described in their report that nearly 4 percent Muslims are in govt jobs in West Bengal. Though according to census 2001, 25.5 percent of West Bengal population are Muslims, in Govt service, their presence is declining day by day.
It is fact that the process for recent recruitments began in the Left Front period, but final list of recommended candidates was prepared now.
Public Service Commission of West Bengal has recommended 340 names for appointment to different posts belonging to the cadre of Gr.-D in the Secretariat and Directorate offices vide memo No: A – 79 /PSC(A) Dated 30th May, 2011. Out of 340, only 13 are Muslims.
Through the Memo. No. A-79/PSC(A) dated 30.05.11., 2802 candidates have been
recommended for appointment to the post of GDA belonging to the cadre of Gr.-D against Regional vacancies in different districts under the Health & Family Welfare Department, Govt. of West Bengal. Out of 2802, only 113 are Muslims.
On 30th May, 2011 as many as 147 candidates were recommended in lower division Peon & Night Watchman where educational qualification is not high. Out of 147 only two are Muslims.
Directorate of Labour, New Secretariat Buildings at 1, K. S. Roy Road, Kolkata – 700 001 recommended 128 peon, but only two Muslims in that list and among 19 Durwan-cum-Night Watchman recommended, no one is Muslim.
Rest of Peon & Durwan-cum-night watchman — all the Group-D candidates — have been recommended for several government departments of West Bengal including Minority Affairs & Madrasa Department and Directorate of Minorities Development & Welfare in Writers Building, the administration office. Two candidates are recommended for Minority Affairs & Madrasa Department those are schedule caste. Two candidates are recommended for of Minorities Development & Welfare, one is Muslim and another is Schedule caste.
Vide Memo No: A-103/PSC(A) recommended candidates of Gr.-D against Regional vacancies in different districts under the Health & Family Welfare Department, Govt. of West Bengal in 15th June, 2011. Most of the candidates recommended in Kolkata district. Of 1011 candidates recommended for Kolkata only 16 are Muslim.
Murshidabad is among Muslim-dominated districts in West Bengal where Muslim percentage is more the 64%. But Muslims in govt jobs are very few. Health & Family Welfare Department, Govt. of West Bengal recommended 75 candidates in Murshidabad. Among them Muslims are only 17. Health & Family Welfare Department, Govt. of West Bengal recommended 2802 candidates for 18 districts, but only 113 candidates are Muslim — percentage only 4.