1. The practice of publication of community-wise census data related to socio-economic and educational level of each group of the Indian people was discontinued since 1951 census. Though relevant data have been collected during each decadal census after Independence, their official publication has not been undertaken presumably under the notion that they are divisive and undermine national integration.

2. However, data on population and decadal rate of growth of each religious community are officially published by the Census Commissioner/Registrar General. Publicity about higher rate of growth of a religious community, say Muslims, coupled with suppression of information about the same group's level of literacy, income, employment and housing etc. has given rise to all types of speculative-subjective theories about Muslims' higher rate of growth of population and its future projection. If simultaneously with publication of rate of growth of each community's population, the data on socio-economic and educational level of the communities were also published, it would be possible for people to seek and find objective explanations about rate of growth of population.

3. In our opinion information and awareness about the socio-economic condition of all segments of the Indian people will reduce intergroup conflict by making more advanced and affluent sections realise and accept the need for affirmative action programme for the comparatively backward sections.

4. The policy of non-publication of socio-economic and educational status of religious minorities does not enjoy any constitutional sanction. Minorities based on religion are a constitutionally recognised group of the Indian people with guaranteed rights. The Government of India has established a National Commission for Minorities under an Act (1992) of Parliament, entrusting it with the responsibility, inter alia, of "evaluating the progress of the development of minorities under the Union and the States". (Clause 9(1a). How can the Commission perform this basic function of evaluation of progress of development of religious minorities, without public availability of the data periodically collected by the Census Commissioner on each religious community's socio-economic condition? ...

It is better to make all official and constitutional agencies/bodies function under the sound policy of recognition of social diversity and economic disparity as a fact of our national life, which must be objectively studied and findings widely disseminated so that measures are taken by the governments, the NGOs and the communities for removal of disparities ...

This has been one of the objectives of all our national plans. By faithfully implementing the policy of wide publicity of the ground realities about all religious communities, alone we hope to secure justice to all citizens and sections of the people, and promote genuine national integration.

5. In view of the above the Government of India may direct the Census Commissioner/Registrar General to                                                                                                                               a) officially publish data on socio-economic and educational status of each religious community collected during Census of 1951, 1961, 1971, 1981 and 1991, and b) to devise the next census operation due in 2001 A.D. so as to clearly bring out the socio-economic and educational profile of all religious minorities in the country.

6. By taking these steps the Govt. of India will also be fulfilling its obligation to the international community under the UN which requires each member state to make the condition of its minorities known.

 Shahabuddin's Letter to H.M, Advani 6 June, 1998

The religious minorities whose population is enumerated in every Census, have been demanding publication of cross-tabulated Census data relating to their education and economic status.

 One fails to appreciate the rationale behind the policy of non-publication. The State is constitutionally bound to promote the advancement of the religious minorities. This is also an obligation under international conventions and declarations. The State has initiated many schemes and programmes to this end. A National Commission for Minorities exists. Both the Commission and the NSS of the Planning Commission undertake statistical survey but this is not the equivalent of decennial census.

Both the State and the communities themselves have to play a role in upgrading the educational and economic State. But without such data, they cannot find out whether they are going forward or backward and what is the speed of progression or regression as the case may be. How can the government review its policies and programmes and schemes for minorities in darkness? How can the minorities be asked to do more for themselves and invest time, energy and resources in the uplift unless they know where they stand? How can leakages and deficiencies in implementation be corrected?

You will agree with me that progressive and contented minorities are a source of strength of the nation.

I, therefore, request you to reconsider the existing policy and instruct the R.G. of India/Census Commission to publish the Cross-Tabulated Educational and Economic data relating to 1991 in the same manner as done for the SC's and ST's.