By Zaidul Haque, TwoCircles.net,
Kolkata: No proper home is one of the major concerns for Muslims in West Bengal particularly in its urban areas, said Mr. Intaj Ali Shah, Chairman of West Bengal Minority Commission and other eminent intellectuals while speaking at a symposium entitled ‘The Problems of Minorities in West Bengal and Remedial Measures’ organized by Humayun Kabir Institute here on 8th July.
Intaj Ali Shah, Chairman of the Minority Commission of West Bengal speaking at the symposium at Humayun Kabir Institute Hall, Kolkata on 8th July, 2012
Minority panel head Mr. Shah said housing problem is one of the perennial problems confronting the slum dwellers and residents of Kolkata. In most of the slums in Kolkata large families of Muslim dwellers stay on the roofs of the Macha and live in unhygienic condition. “We can see the plight of children residing at Muslim dominated Alimuddin Street (State Headquarters of CPIM) and the children residing at Non-Muslim dominated Doctor’s Lane. Muslims of Alimuddin Street lag behind those living in Doctor’s Lane area,” said Mr. Shah.
He also said Muslims are not getting the Indira Awas Yojna benefits under MSDP scheme in Kolkata though Urban Development Department is imparting proper help to the slum dwellers.
Speaking to the audience, Sardar Amjad Ali, Ex-Member of Parliament and Trianmul Congress leader said, irrespective of who governs the state, Muslims in urban slums have no basic facilities.
Whether it is Left Front government or newly formed Government of Mamata Banerjee, no Government takes care of the slums in Muslim dominated areas, said Mr. Ali. “It is a fact that, most of the slum dwellers are Muslims in Kolkata. It is unfortunate.”
He said, the state is actually ruled by those people who are only 16%. Minorities –Muslims, Sikhs and SC/ST people together are 84% of the state population, but they never enjoy the power – they are not made chief ministers nor given any important department or ministry. Substantiating his point, Mr. Ali said: In Left Front regime Anisur Rahman was Minister of Animal Husbandry for a long period, and now that department has been given by Mamata government to a Muslim retired Judge of High Court.
Sardar Amjad Ali also talked about Urdu language and demanded it be made second official language in Muslim areas. Second language status to Urdu in areas with 10% Urdu speaking population is a way to create division among linguistic classes of the Muslim community. Urdu speaking people are part of Muslim community, so the government should declare Urdu second official language in the whole Muslim areas, he said.
Mr. Ali also expressed his critical views on the remuneration to Imams and Muazzins. He said remuneration to them from Government is not Halal. That money should come from the State Waqf fund, said Mr.
He said remuneration to the Imam and Muazzin is welcome, but asked why it is not given from the Waqf fund? He thinks, except Waqf fund, other incomes of the West Bengal Government comes from taxes from the public, from wine merchants, and even from prostitutes and bank interests. How can a Muslim offer namaz behind the Imam who is paid such money from the Government? he asked and demanded the money should come from the state Waqf fund. He wondered why no Imam protested against the decision of the Government.
Sardar Amjad Ali, Ex Member of Parliament, at the symposium at Humayun Kabir Institute Hall, Kolkata on 8th July, 2012
Intaj Ali Shah, in his long speech, also raised these issues and offered some suggestions.
Mr. Intaj Ali said it is a fact that the largest group of the Minorities in West Bengal i.e. Muslims never find space in the mainstream because Muslims had been at the agrarian base since immemorial time and 80% of Muslims depend on agricultural industry besides tailoring industry at Metiabruz area and embroidery industry at Howrah Domjur area.
Chairman of State Minority Commission Mr. Shah talked about educational backwardness, social and economic backwardness, reservation and Urdu language.
Mr. Intaj Ali Shah offered some remedial measures to overcome the backwardness of the Muslim community in West Bengal.
Society: The State Government and Central Government both should take initiative to bring the Muslim minorities in the mainstream of society. Awareness camps should be held among the Muslim masses to make them aware of their rights and duties to the society as well as to the country.
Economy: Government should take step to bring the minorities to public and private Sector and Government should announce the economic packages for the minorities in support of their profession, like tailoring, embroidery, vocational training..
Education: Steps should be taken to increase the percentage of Muslims in Higher Studies and Professional Courses. The amount of Scholarship and the amount of Educational loan must be enhanced. The job oriented trainings like Vocational training, Para training imparted by the Aliah University should be accelerated or increased.
Reservation: Reservation of seats for Minorities in Educational Institutions like IITC, PTTI and other Training Institutions Educational package be given to the Minorities instead of or in place of educational loans.
Hostel facilities: Hostel facilities for boys and girls in proper Kolkata or each District Headquarters should be given. Communal feelings must be removed from the minds of the majority and the Authority of State or Centrals Heads. Police authorities must be sensitized to treat the citizens equally. All sorts of deprivation and discrimination must be removed from the minds of the Head of the Institution otherwise, Article 14,15,16,19, 29(2) and Article 30 of the Constitution will be meaningless.
Police: Police Personnel must be more humane, realistic, and rational during investigation of any congnizable offence against the Minorities. It is a fact that all Muslim minorities young groups are not terrorists.Many Minorities are languishing in the jail for years without any trial. Each and every police station must have at least one Muslim Sub-Inspector, Two constable, One lady constable and a Homeguard.
Equal Opportunity:West Bengal Minority Commission may be replaced or restyled as equal opportunity commission having power to separate Investigation team or enquiry team like Human rights Commission and guilty be punished for discrimination or deprivation or certain panel provision may be included. Commission should not be a mere recommending statutory body of Government.
Selection Board: In each and every recruitment Board or Selection Board or PSC recruitment Board one Muslim of impeccable character be the Member.
Besides Intaj Ali Shah and Sardar Amjad Ali, President of the Humayun Kabir Institute Dr Md Shadullah, Ex Member of State Minority Commission Shoham Singh Atiali, State Waqf Board Chairman Abdul Ghani, Urdu Writer Syed Ali and many other Muslim personalities delivered speech.