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A.P. State Level Seminar on
Recommendations, Implications and Implementation Status
of
Sachar Committee- Ranganath Mishra Commission- 15 Point
Program for Minorities
held on February 1, 2011,
At
Pastoral Center, Gun Foundry, Hyderabad
Centre
for Study of Society and Secularism (CSSS) in
association with COVA Hyderabad organized A.P. State
Level Seminar on recommendations, implications and
implementation status of Sachar Committee & Ranganath
Mishra Commissions Reports and P.M.’s New 15 Point
Program at Hyderabad on 1st February 2011.
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 on
high 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.
Dr. Vasundhara Mohan, Executive Director, Centre for
Study of Society and Secularism (CSSS), Mumbai gave
overview and objective of the program.
Dr. Asghar Ali Engineer, Chairman, CSSS focused on the
present situation of Muslims in India and said that
after 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.
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 activists said that except a few MPs like Mr. Aziz
Pasha, Mr. Anwar and others Muslims 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.
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.
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.
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. 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.
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:
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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.
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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,
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To ensure that hasty approach does not become
counterproductive and should not give benefit to
people who are against implementation.
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To work for Reservations for Muslims and Christians on
par with other dalits
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Propagation of Schemes Involving Muslim religious
leaders
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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.
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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.
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