MINORITIES COMISSION

M.P. State Minorities Commission: Annual Report, 1996-97

The most significant achievement during the year was the enactment and enforcement of the Madhya Pradesh State Minorities Commission Act, 1996. The Act confers adequate powers for the discharge of the duties. During the year under report, the Commission brought to the notice of the Government a number of problems facing the minority communities in the State and in many matters proper action was taken.

Reports have been received by the Commission that the district level Minorities Welfare Committees are not meeting regularly nor deliberating on the matters entrusted to them for their consideration. No monitoring system has been evolved to ensure this. There is an obvious need for adequately monitoring the activities the activities of the district level Minorities Welfare Committees.

(It has been suggested that) the Chairman of the District Panchayat should be made as permanent invitee of the District Level Minorities Welfare Committee so that the Committee may profit from the various welfare activities in the district. The Commission has repeatedly stressed that unless some compensation is paid to illiterate men and women the object of universalization of education will not be achieved.

 Apart from illiteracy, one of the cardinal reasons why the (minority communities) have not been able to progress is that they have not received proportional benefits of the various development programme being implemented in the State. Unless this is ensured the economically backward minority communities will never be able to get social justice.

(The Commission has) proposed some practical steps for augmenting employment opportunities for the minorities.

Mismanagement of Waqf properties, encroachment of cemeteries, non-allotment of land for new cemeteries and places of worship are some of the irritants which cause disaffection among the minority communities. The State Government (should) sensitise the administrative machinery to their needs.

As a result of the initiative taken by the Commission, satisfactory arrangements for the registration of Parsi marriages have been made in Indore. Social, Economic and Educational Survey of Minorities: The State Government has sanctioned Rs. 5.00 lakh for initiating s social, economic and educational survey of the minority communities of the State. The survey has already begun.

Multi-Sectoral Development Schemes: Bhopal district has been included under the multi-sectoral development scheme (of) the Ministry of Welfare, Government of India.

Education: Appointment of Urdu Teachers: (In 1995- 96) the State Government sanctioned 1100 posts of Urdu teachers, but so far only 902 posts have been filled and 198 posts still remain vacant.

The M.P. Government have recognised Adib-e-Mahir, Adib-e-Kamil and Moallim-e-Urdu Certificate awarded by the Jamia Urdu, Aligarh for the appointment of teachers.

Area Intensive Programme: The State Government has already taken steps to implement the Are Intensive Programme (of) the Union Government for the promotion of education among the Muslim Minority Community.

Training for Competitive Examinations: The Chancellor of the University (Governor of M.P.) has directed the Universities of the State to prepare suitable schemes for (coaching minority students for competitive examinations) and obtain the approval of the Universities Grants Commission as soon as possible.

Employment Schemes:  The minority communities have received only 2% of the financial assistance being given by the Nationalised Banks and the Cooperative Banks under various programmes being Implemented for the development of the weaker sections, when their percentage in the State's population is 5.89.

Waqf Tribunal: M.P. is the first State to appoint a Waqf Tribunal under a District Judge for the expeditious disposal of disputes relation to Waqf properties. The Tribunal had decided 607 cases by February 1997 and the number of pending cases before the Tribunal was 969.

Association of Minority Member in Recruitment: The Government of M.P. decided way back in 1988 that wherever five or more posts were to be filled in any government establishment, the selection committee constituted for selecting candidates should include at least one representative of the minority communities. The Chief Minister has ordered that the instructions of the Government should be strictly complied with.

Review of Welfare Activities:

The Commission has decided to review the activities of 14 departments of the State Government concerned with implementing schemes of welfare for the minority communities.

Gas Affected Employees:

The Commission has recommended to the State Government that (Government and Public Sector Undertaking) employees affected by gas disaster and undergoing treatment at Bhopal may not be transferred out of the city.

Recommendations:

Education: The Basic Training Institute at Burhanpur should be re-opened from the next academic session for training the newly recruited Urdu teachers. Expeditious action be taken to constitute a Madarsa Board in M.P. on the lines of the Madarsa Board in Bihar. The mid-day meal scheme for primary school children (should be) extended to Primary Schools, Madarsas and Maktabs run by Waqf Board. The State Govt. extend financial support to (Bhopal & Indore) Universities for continuing coaching classes (after UGC Scheme expires).

Employment:The Commission has recommended that a target of providing gainful employment to 20,000 persons each year should be set under the Prime Minister's Employment Programme; the Integrated Rural Development Programme; in traditional crafts (and) self-employment opportunities with assistance from the Minorities Development and Finance Corporation.

Miscellaneous: Chairman of the district Panchayats be included as permanent invitees in the District Level Minorities Welfare Committees. An Advisory Committee under the Chairmanship of the Chief Minister be constituted to advise the Government on the welfare of

the minority community.

The Commission has recommended that the following nine Muslim Biradaris be included in (the list of OBC’s).

(i) Muslim Gaddi                                            (vi) Muslim Dafali, Phadali

(ii) Muslim Dhosi,                                          (vii)Muslim Atishvaz, Darves Atishbaz, Sikligar

(iii) Mukeri & Makrani,                                  (viii) Rajgir, Santras, Patharphod

(iv) Sigiwale, Kharadi, Kamlikar                   (ix) Farrash Mahavat

(v) Muslim Shah, Sai, Kabrkhod, Phak & Darvesh,

The benefit of the Pratistha Scheme be extended to the Haila Biradari. The Collectors be directed to expeditiously dispose of cases under the Madhya Pradesh Public Religious Place Regulation Act regarding the maintenance, repair and renovation of public places of worship within a month.

The State Government have constituted an Urdu Academy for the promotion of Urdu Language and Literature. The Madhya Pradesh Urdu Academy be additionally entrusted with the responsibilities of promoting education in Urdu throughout the State.

Minority Communities in Madhya Pradesh

Minorities Forum of India: 2nd All India Conference, New Delhi 25 October, 1997, Resolution (Summary)

(1) Special schemes be launched to provide financial assistance and recognition, etc. without delay to the educational institutions being set up by the Minorities.

(2) Muslim's representation in the Government, Semi-Government and Corporate sector, jobs be ensured in accordance with their population ratio and the quota of backward Muslims in accordance with their population ratio of 8.44% out of 27% reservation quota for backwards be also ensured.

(3) The minority, democratic, autonomous and historical character of the Jamia Millia Islamia be ensured.

(4) The democratic functioning of the statutory bodies of the Aligarh Muslim University e.g. AMU Court and Students Union etc. be restored. In 1998 Sir Syed Centenary Celebrations be observed at National level.

(5) Recommendation of the Gujral Committee be implemented forthwith. Urdu service be given due share in Official Media and UNI Urdu service be not closed or discontinues.

(6) Central Waqf Act, 1995 be immediately amended. State Waqf Boards be given necessary financial grant.

(7) Central Haj Committee and Central Waqf Council, etc. be reconstituted in democratic manner. Due representation be given to the Minorities in the appointments of High Court and Supreme Court Judges, Advocates representing the Government in Supreme Court, High Courts and other Bodies, Directors of Banks, Chairmen of Corporations, chairmen and members of different committees of Central and State Governments, Universities and other bodies.

(8) A separate Ministry of Minorities Welfare be created at the Central level.

(9) The High Court directly or through the Supreme Court (be requested) for day-to-day hearing of the cases relating to Babari Masjid.

(10) The State Government be directed to ensure speedy trial of Hashimpura-Malliana massacre and Babari Masjid demolition,

(11) Leaders of VHP, RSS, Shiv Sena and Bajrang Dal etc., who have been demanding conversion of Gyanvapi Mosque of Varanasi and Idgah Mosque of Mathura into temples, should be prosecuted under the Places of Worship Act.

(12) Prominent freedom fighters belonging to Minorities be given due recognition and honour by the Central and State Governments.