Human Chain organises symposium on Sachar Committee recommendations and its implementation

The Sachar Committee report and its recommendations are discussed by Muslim community and political leaders time-and-again. In fact, the UPA (United Progressive Alliance) government had received plaudits for its remarkable step taken for analysing the condition of Muslims in India. However, since the report was presented in Lok Sabha in 2006 hardly any major step is taken by the Central government to implement the recommendations made by the committee.

On Tuesday (December 25, 2012) Human Chain – a Delhi based non government registered society working for Muslim issues for past a couple of years took an exception and organized a symposium at India Islamic Cultural Centre (IICC), New Delhi to find out the reasons behind the delay made in implementation of the recommendations. In presence of K Rahman Khan, Minister of Minority Affairs, Govt of India, who was chief guest of symposium the Sachar Committee report was discussed in detail in other key speakers like Dr. Syed Zafar Mahmood, OSD (Officer on Special Duty) Sachar Committee, Mohammad Aslam, President Human Chain, Uday Raj – former Bureaucrat and politician working for SC /ST.

In his address to audience at IICC Khan said “me and my ministry assure to implement all possible recommendations of Sachar Committee in shortest possible time. Special focus would be given to 90 MCDs (minority concentrated districts) of the country”. He said, “implementation of Sachar Committee recommendations and minority welfare programmes are not possible until and unless the state governments respond in a positive way”. The minister said “I had written a letter to Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for sending me projects for upliftment of minorities in the state. However, I haven’t received any reply even after two weeks.” The Ministry of Minority Affairs have lots of funds but the state governments don’t come forward with project details for expending the money for welfare of minorities, added Khan.

Zafar Mahmood, President Zakat Foundation presented a detailed report on Sachar Committee, its consequences and development till date. Mahmood was not happy over action taken by the government regarding the Sachar recommendations. With his appreciating remarks for K Rahman Khan, Mahmood has also highlighted many issues related to minorities and recommendations made by other committees and officials of minority ministry in past. Mahmood has focused on the issue of illegal encroachment of Wakf properties across India worth is thousand of crores. He said if all the Wakf properties are identified and come back to Muslims there is no need for Sachar Committee recommendations or other financial help.

Uday Raj – an active leader of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe shared his personal experience with audience comprised of over 500 people. The former officer of India government said that Muslims are not having a strong leader to present the issues of the community in the parliament. Raj said, the Muslims themselves don’t gather together for their core issues and rights given to them by the government of India. He said that even after 20 years since the Mandal Commission report was presented in 1992, Muslims have hardly got any benefit in jobs. Other OBC communities mentioned under 27 percent reservation are getting full benefit. Discussion on Sachar Committee recommendations is always good but don’t forget Mandal Commission recommendation as well if you want upliftment of Muslim community, added Raj.

Human Chain President Mohammad Aslam asked the Minority Affairs minister to give special attention to seven Minority concentrated districts of Bihar where people are behind from the country people in almost every field especially in education, employment and communication. Aslam said, “without giving proper attention to deprived districts of Kishanganj, Purnia, Araria and Katihar in Bihar it would be useless to think about developing India”. “The Seemanchal region in Bihar is minority concentrated and it is backward in comparison to other parts of country. On behalf of 2 crore people of Seemanchal, I request the Minister of Minority Affairs to give immediate attention to this region of Bihar,” told Aslam.

Actually, in order to analyse the social, economic and educational condition of the Indian Muslims during the UPA I government Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh had appointed the Rajinder Sachar Committee in 2005. Headed by Rajinder Sachar, former Chief Justice of Delhi High Court the committee included six members and prepared a detailed 403 pages report. The report was tabled in the parliament on 30th November, 2006, which brought forth many surprising facts about the Muslim community of India. The report said the status of Muslims are worst than the conditions of country’s Scheduled castes and Scheduled tribes. Another revelation made by the committee was that the percentage of Muslims in bureaucracy and other top level government jobs were between 2.5 and 3.5 percent.