Text of the representation by the Minority Coordination Committee to Gujarat governor On Prakash Kohli on the development and protection of the minority community:
The population of minorities in Gujarat is 11.5% (as per of Census of India 2011), which includes Muslims 9.7%, Jains 1.0%, Christians 0.5%, Buddhists 0.1%, and others 0.1% . In the state like Gujarat 82.3% Muslim children take admission in the primary schools, but this percentage is found to be decreasing at the matriculation or Standard 10th, when it reaches just 32.5% only. This is a very serious situation.
Gujarat is witness to internal migration for many years, and it's main reasons include riots and establishment of industries on a large scale along the sea coast. About 2 lakh people of the minority communities have migrated and settled down in big cities. They are helpless. They live their lives amidst deficient minimum basic amenities. They live mainly in slum areas. The most affected community is Muslim as per the Sachar committee report.
According to the Sachar Committee report, on an average 21% people are employed in the organized and manufacturing sector, whereas only 13% Muslims are in this sector. Other communities of the country have a higher share. In the field of self-employment, Muslims' share is 54%, which is less than the average of the country, i.e.57%. In the informal occupations, Muslims' share is 23%, whereas the overall share in the country is 17%. It is clear from these figures that Muslims are becoming victims of discrimination.
Recommendations of the Sachar committee led to the formation of the Minority Welfare Ministry by the Government of India in 2006. Its main objective is to bring minorities of the country to the mainstream. This led to launching of special schemes on scholarship, talent development, Wakf development, the Prime Minister's 15 points programme, assistance for the preparation of administrative examinations etc. The implementation of the Prime Minister's 15 points programm zero in Gujarat. In Gujarat, no specific provision for minorities has been made in the budget.
Commissions have been established in India and different states form the preparation of strategies for redressal of grievances and development of deprived classes, and these include Women's Commission, Scheduled Caste Commission, Scheduled Tribes Commission, Commission for Other Backward Classes, Commission for Child Rights, Minorities Commission etc.
In Gujarat, however, we have no separate Ministry for Minority Affairs, no budgetary allocation for the upliftment of minorities, nor is there any implementation of schemes launched by the Government of India. There is no grievances redressal mechanism for minorities in Gujarat in the form of a commission, either.
Considering all this our demands are:
- Enact Minorities (Prevention Of Atrocities) Act.
- Form portfolio/ministry for the welfare of minorities in the state.
- Specific financial provisions should be made in the state budget for the development of minorities.
- Open Government Higher Secondary schools where minorities are residing in considerable numbers.
- Recognize the Degree of Madarsas equivalent to the Gujarat Board.
- Form State Minority Commission. Law should be passed in the State Assembly giving it constitutional standing.
- Special financial package should be given for the development of minorities.
- Frame a policy for the rehabilitation of internally displaced persons because of natural disasters and communal violence.
- Fully implement of the Prime Minister's new 15 point programme.
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