PaRCha - JNU - AISA - 2006 ID-2555
.
AISA Public Meeting .
Socio-Economic conditions of Muslims In India: .
Reflections on Sachar Committee Report .
Speaker: Prof T. K Oommen, .
.
Member, Sachar Committee and Formerly at CSSS, JNU .
Chair Prof. Md. Shahid Husain, GIL, JNU .
Godavari Mess 31.01.07( Today) i.30pm .
.
The 1mplicatjons of the Sachar Committee findings ought to be a JOlt to Indian democracy. The systemic backwardness, discrimination, neglect and exclusion towards the Mushm mmority is a telling comment on the weakness of lnd1an secularism. The Sangh Parivar's myth of 'Muslim appeasemenf stands revealed, and high degree of deprivation and discrimination faced by Muslims In states ruled by the so-called 'secular' formations, including Congress, RJD, SP and even CPI(M) also stands exposed. .
The Sachar Report records the daily battle the Muslims face with stereotypes and prejudices, and the deep scars thatcommunal violence leaves on this community. However, certain significant omissions and silences in the Sachar Report are dtsturbing. The Report finally tabled in Parliament ·failed to include the data on over-representation ofMuslims In prisons, though it recorded their gross under-representation in jobs and educational institutions. When the Sachar Committee had sought data from the military, the BJP had whipped up a frenzy, and the UPA Government succumbed to the communal pressure. The PMO had washed its hands offthe Committee .
then, and the Committee was not permitted to access data from the Armed Forces. It was also 'demoted' from a 'Prime Minister's High Level Committee' directly underthe PMO, to merely being under the Ministry of Minority Affairs The data on prisons and armed forces reveals the worst aspect of Muslim status-the fact that they face suspicion and persecution at the hands of the State. For such data to be suppressed under communal pressure is a matter of shame for the UPAGovernment. .
.
Among the Sachar Report's exposures, the most shocking and disappointing, perhaps, is the track-record of West Bengal, which has had a three-decade uninterrupted rule of the Left Front Government led by the CPI-CPI(M). Here, Muslims share In the population is on the higher side-25.2% (around a quarter of the State's population). Yet, it has one of the lowest shares of Muslims in Government employment: just 4.2%, and also the lowest percentage of Muslims In higher positions in State PSUs: a truly amazing zero percent! The percentage of Muslims employees in key positions in the state judiciary of West Bengal Is barely 5%. .
This data raises disturbing questions, because even though no outright communal violence occurred,justice for Muslims has not meant safeguards against discrimination nor the right to dignity, employment, education and economic progress. As a senior member of the Sachar Committee has commented, "States like West Bengal have provided physical security to Muslims or states like Biharand UP have politically empowered the backward .
sd/-Awadhesh, Gen.Secy., AISA, JNU .
1 .
.
castes, including Muslims, but this isn't translating to a level playing field when it comes to jobs oreconomic progress." .
In riots everywhere, we have seen how the economic bases of Muslim survival are the first to be attacked-be itthe shops IfAhmedabad or the weavers' looms of Mau. In States ruled by 'secular' and 'progressive' forces like the Congress. SP and CPI(M). such violence is not always brutal and physical -the economic bases of survival are attacked through systematic discrimination and denial instead. .
It 1s no surprise that the same Governments of Congress, SP, and even tl'le CPI(M) not only discriminate against Muslims tn the matter of jobs and judiciary -they also reinforce the "communal common sense" of hostility and suspicion against Muslims, branding them as "anti-national". The latest instance is that ofNandigram where, again. the primary basis of Muslim survival in the State -agnculture-IS being snatched away. Here, Muslim peasants protesting against eviction were branded as ''communal" by the ruling CPI(M). .
Today, the BJP is trying to whip up communal sentiment agatn st implementation of the Sachar Committee recommendations. rt remains to be seen whether the UPA Govt. succumbs to this pressure and condemns the Sachar recommendations to the fate met by the Gopal Singh Comm1ttee Report of 1983. .
The whole nat1on must, without bias, confront the find1ngs of the Sa char Report, and implement all its recommendations with an open mind In particular, we in JNU must take an extra 1n1t1ative to ensure that the Sachar Report's recommendations relating to education are streamlines and implemented. The Sachar report has recommended recognising Madarsa degrees for defence, civil and banking exams -In JNU too, we must make sure these degrees are recognised In the BA 1st year itself. Further, the Sachar Report has demanded a 1000 crore allocation for the Maulana Azad Education Foundation. This demand Is welcome and should be met by the Government without delay -but It Is Important that this allocation should be backed by a detailed, concrete plan, including scholarships for all Muslim students. The MHRD and UGC should come out with a scheme of scholarships for Muslim students on the lines of the Rajiv Gandhi scholarship for SC/ST students. .
.
Join Protest Demo .
.
Against The Rape Of 5Yr Old Girl In JNU And .
Demanding Sacking Of The Karmachari Involved .
At Gan a Dhaba On 31.01.07 At 5.30 P.M · .
.
AI SAexpresses deep shock at and condemns in strongestterms .
the incident ofrape ofa5year old daughterofakarmacharl by another .
karmachari inJNU.We demand Immediate sacking ofthe culprit and .
strictest punishmentfor this heinous act. We also demand punishment .
for those who are pressurizing the victim Into suppressing the case. .
Ensunng justice for the victims of sexual violence and child abuse on .
our owncampus is our responsibility as JNU students. Further, JNU .
Administration must take responsibility ofproviding the best medical .
treatment and psychiatric counselling to the victlm. AISA calls upon .
JNU students to participate In the Protest Demo against the .
heinous act demanding exemplary punishment for the culprit .
and his protectors. sd/-R j h R J V p Al~A ,.. ...
a es an an, . .. . .
.
.
.
PaRCha - JNU - AISA - 2006 ID-2555
.
AISA Public Meeting .
Socio-Economic conditions of Muslims In India: .
Reflections on Sachar Committee Report .
Speaker: Prof T. K Oommen, .
.
Member, Sachar Committee and Formerly at CSSS, JNU .
Chair Prof. Md. Shahid Husain, GIL, JNU .
Godavari Mess 31.01.07( Today) i.30pm .
.
The 1mplicatjons of the Sachar Committee findings ought to be a JOlt to Indian democracy. The systemic backwardness, discrimination, neglect and exclusion towards the Mushm mmority is a telling comment on the weakness of lnd1an secularism. The Sangh Parivar's myth of 'Muslim appeasemenf stands revealed, and high degree of deprivation and discrimination faced by Muslims In states ruled by the so-called 'secular' formations, including Congress, RJD, SP and even CPI(M) also stands exposed. .
The Sachar Report records the daily battle the Muslims face with stereotypes and prejudices, and the deep scars thatcommunal violence leaves on this community. However, certain significant omissions and silences in the Sachar Report are dtsturbing. The Report finally tabled in Parliament ·failed to include the data on over-representation ofMuslims In prisons, though it recorded their gross under-representation in jobs and educational institutions. When the Sachar Committee had sought data from the military, the BJP had whipped up a frenzy, and the UPA Government succumbed to the communal pressure. The PMO had washed its hands offthe Committee .
then, and the Committee was not permitted to access data from the Armed Forces. It was also 'demoted' from a 'Prime Minister's High Level Committee' directly underthe PMO, to merely being under the Ministry of Minority Affairs The data on prisons and armed forces reveals the worst aspect of Muslim status-the fact that they face suspicion and persecution at the hands of the State. For such data to be suppressed under communal pressure is a matter of shame for the UPAGovernment. .
.
Among the Sachar Report's exposures, the most shocking and disappointing, perhaps, is the track-record of West Bengal, which has had a three-decade uninterrupted rule of the Left Front Government led by the CPI-CPI(M). Here, Muslims share In the population is on the higher side-25.2% (around a quarter of the State's population). Yet, it has one of the lowest shares of Muslims in Government employment: just 4.2%, and also the lowest percentage of Muslims In higher positions in State PSUs: a truly amazing zero percent! The percentage of Muslims employees in key positions in the state judiciary of West Bengal Is barely 5%. .
This data raises disturbing questions, because even though no outright communal violence occurred,justice for Muslims has not meant safeguards against discrimination nor the right to dignity, employment, education and economic progress. As a senior member of the Sachar Committee has commented, "States like West Bengal have provided physical security to Muslims or states like Biharand UP have politically empowered the backward .
sd/-Awadhesh, Gen.Secy., AISA, JNU .
1 .
.
castes, including Muslims, but this isn't translating to a level playing field when it comes to jobs oreconomic progress." .
In riots everywhere, we have seen how the economic bases of Muslim survival are the first to be attacked-be itthe shops IfAhmedabad or the weavers' looms of Mau. In States ruled by 'secular' and 'progressive' forces like the Congress. SP and CPI(M). such violence is not always brutal and physical -the economic bases of survival are attacked through systematic discrimination and denial instead. .
It 1s no surprise that the same Governments of Congress, SP, and even tl'le CPI(M) not only discriminate against Muslims tn the matter of jobs and judiciary -they also reinforce the "communal common sense" of hostility and suspicion against Muslims, branding them as "anti-national". The latest instance is that ofNandigram where, again. the primary basis of Muslim survival in the State -agnculture-IS being snatched away. Here, Muslim peasants protesting against eviction were branded as ''communal" by the ruling CPI(M). .
Today, the BJP is trying to whip up communal sentiment agatn st implementation of the Sachar Committee recommendations. rt remains to be seen whether the UPA Govt. succumbs to this pressure and condemns the Sachar recommendations to the fate met by the Gopal Singh Comm1ttee Report of 1983. .
The whole nat1on must, without bias, confront the find1ngs of the Sa char Report, and implement all its recommendations with an open mind In particular, we in JNU must take an extra 1n1t1ative to ensure that the Sachar Report's recommendations relating to education are streamlines and implemented. The Sachar report has recommended recognising Madarsa degrees for defence, civil and banking exams -In JNU too, we must make sure these degrees are recognised In the BA 1st year itself. Further, the Sachar Report has demanded a 1000 crore allocation for the Maulana Azad Education Foundation. This demand Is welcome and should be met by the Government without delay -but It Is Important that this allocation should be backed by a detailed, concrete plan, including scholarships for all Muslim students. The MHRD and UGC should come out with a scheme of scholarships for Muslim students on the lines of the Rajiv Gandhi scholarship for SC/ST students. .
.
Join Protest Demo .
.
Against The Rape Of 5Yr Old Girl In JNU And .
Demanding Sacking Of The Karmachari Involved .
At Gan a Dhaba On 31.01.07 At 5.30 P.M · .
.
AI SAexpresses deep shock at and condemns in strongestterms .
the incident ofrape ofa5year old daughterofakarmacharl by another .
karmachari inJNU.We demand Immediate sacking ofthe culprit and .
strictest punishmentfor this heinous act. We also demand punishment .
for those who are pressurizing the victim Into suppressing the case. .
Ensunng justice for the victims of sexual violence and child abuse on .
our owncampus is our responsibility as JNU students. Further, JNU .
Administration must take responsibility ofproviding the best medical .
treatment and psychiatric counselling to the victlm. AISA calls upon .
JNU students to participate In the Protest Demo against the .
heinous act demanding exemplary punishment for the culprit .
and his protectors. sd/-R j h R J V p Al~A ,.. ...
a es an an, . .. . .
.
.
.