GOVERNMENT

Government: Views of Prime Minister Inder Kumar Gujral

On Communalism

Look at the root of communal tendencies and you will find social injustice. Caste and other devise platforms are adopted when people feel they are not being treated fairly. In this 50th year of Independence, we must pay attention to social justice. Seventy per cent of our population are outside the glow of prosperity. We can't focus only on the remaining 30 per cent or else we'll be sitting on a power keg.

On Philosophy of Government

The philosophy behind my government is a vision of India, the vision of our founding fathers who gave us the Directive Principles of the Constitution. In this 50th year of Independence, we must seek to realise their goal of social justice and gender equality. India is now on the threshold of greatness, provided we realise that the country belongs not just to 30 percent of its people, but to the entire one billion. I want to see a modern India, but modernisation is not synonymous with westernisation. I draw a distinction between the two. I want to help realise Ghandiji's vision of India.                                                     

(Source: The Times of India, 27 April, 1997)

Shahabuddin's Letter of 7 March,97 to NMC On Revision of Muslim Concentration Districts

I have analysed the list with reference to 1981 list of Muslim Concentration Districts. The methodology adopted leaves out districts with high Muslim concentration (say 15%), if the total of all minority communities does not reach 20% cut-off limit, while low Muslim concentration districts (say 5%) are included if total of all exceeds 20%. This would apply for all communities but the Muslims most as others like Sikhs and Christians are must less dispensed than Muslims.

That is why I had suggested that all districts in which the population of Muslims (or any other community) exceeds 1% of its total national population should be included.

Reply of Chairman, NMC,19 March, 1997

I do agree with every point which you have made in your letter: - I have myself recommended to the Government that the criterion for identifying Minority Concentration Districts be lowered. The present criterion of 20 per cent population was fixed long ago and the circumstances have since entirely changed. I will do my best towards securing necessary action in this regard.

Important Recommendations Made at the 4th Meeting of NCM

The National Commission for Minorities, reconstituted in November 1996, held its Fourth General Meeting today, presided over by the Chairman, Professor Tahir Mahmood.

Though not included in the pre-set Agenda, the Commission discussed suo moto the situation resulting from the recent Delhi High Court decision relating to reserved seats for admission in Jamia Millia Islamia and recommended to the Central Government a proper amendment of the Jamia Millia Islamia Act 1988 to ensure and strengthen the Minority of the institution.

Other notable recommendations made by the Commission to the Government at this meeting include:

(i) Enactment of a comprehensive law by Parliament formulating details of the Minorities Educational and Cultural Rights guaranteed by Articles 29-30 if the Constitution in the original spirit of these provisions so as to dispel doubts arising in this regard from time to time.

(ii) Exemption of candidates belonging to minority communities, for at least 15 years, from UGC's NET requirement for appointment as teachers in universities and colleges.

(iii)Constitution of Standing Committees on Minorities Welfare by State Governments in all districts- especially those falling in Minority Concentration regions.

(iv) Enactment of central legislation for Hydrabad's Dairat-ul-Ma'arif and Dargah Syed Salar Masood Ghazi of Bahraich to ensure their proper management and utilization of funds

The Chairman also moved a Resolution expressing grief on loss of life to the recent Mina fire tragedy and recommending to the Government proper amendment of the Haj Committee Act 1959 and the Rules framed thereunder to prevent recurrence of such tragedies.

The Commission also decided to constitute a new High-Power Committee under the convenorship of Dr. James Massy to revise and update Gopal Singh Committee Report on the basis of a fresh study of the problems of all minorities.

The main issue of Commission's new Newsletter "Minorities India" was formally releases.

More 1991 Census Reports Published

Based on the 1991 census data the following volumes have been published:

(iv) Census of India 1991, Series-I, India, Paper-I of 1992, Vols. I & II, Final Population Totals

Census of India, 1991, Series-I India, Paper-I of 1995, Religion

Census of India 1991, Series-I, India, Part -IV (ii) Religion.

 (Source: MHA : Annual Report 1996-97)