As part of its Independence golden Jubilee Celebrations 1997-98, the NCM held at Vigyan Bhawan a two-day National Conference of State Minorities Commissions and Boards. Among the invitees were eight State Minorities Commissions, two State Minorities Boards and representatives of all other State Governments having no such bodies… State Governments of Maharashtra and Jammu & Kashmir participated. The Conference was inaugurated by Welfare Minister Shri B.S. Ramoowalia who assured all possible freedom and Government help to NCM in its work. In his key-note address NCM Chairman Prof. Tahir Mahmood explained the history, background and legal basis of the National and State Minorities Commissions and declared that:
"If justice to and equality of all Indians irrespective of their religion and language are part of Nation's conscience, then the NCM and its State counterparts are surely Nation's conscience-keepers."
The Conference finally passed four specific Resolutions and took several other decisions stated below:
Resolutions
A. All religious and linguistic communities of India, including the majority and the Minorities ... must live in perfect harmony, respecting each other's religion, culture, language, traditions and Constitutional and legal rights, without allowing themselves to be affected by any feelings of ill-will, bias or prejudice against each other
B. All Indian citizens ... must meticulously discharge all the Fundamental Duties enshrined in the Constitution, especially those relating to promotion of peaceful co-living and common Indian. brotherhood and protection of the composite cultural heritage oi India.
C. The U.N. Declaration on Minorities 1992 and all the Constitutional provisions and Legislative measures of India relating to the rights of Minorities – especially those relating to or affecting their social, economic and educational rights - must be fully respected and implemented in ... letter and spirit by the Central and State Governments and all administrative authorities and public servants in the country.
D. All institutional arrangements relating to numerically weaker sections of the society must be strengthened by the concerned Governments. As part of this exercise, the necessary recognition, powers, facilities and funds must be provided by the and Finance Corporations and Minorities Welfare Departments of Governments.
Decisions
(i) State Minorities Commission should be set up in the States where (these do not exist). Minorities Boards of Assam and Gujarat should be elevated to the status of Commissions.
(ii) Chairpersons of State Minorities Commissions should be made ex-officio Members of State Human Rights Commissions wherever they exist.
(iii) Non-statutory State Minorities Commissions should be given legislative charters.
(iv) All State Minorities Commissions shall adopt NCM Rules and Regulations with necessary verbal changes.
(v) Each State Minorities Commission shall appoint Consultative Councils for Chairpersons and Honorary Advisors in the Districts.
(vi) Quarterly Reports on Prime Minister's 15-Point Programme by the State Governments, required under law for NCM, shall involve State Minorities Commissions. They shall pursue the matter with State Governments and ensure their regular and punctual submission.
(vii) Minorities Development and Finance Corporations (MDFCs) must be set up in all States/UTs - and all MDFCs, existing and future, must work in .. consultation and collaboration with the National and State Minorities Commissions.
(viii) All concerned authorities must strictly follow the ... Guidelines issued by the NCM and the Central Government regarding recognition and monitoring of educational institutions of the Minorities (established under) Article 30 of the Constitution. (Source: NCM Newsletter, Winter 1997)
