CPI(M) gives own take on Sachar panel findings

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) has, while broadly endorsing the Sachar Committee's recommendations on improving the position of minorities, made its own suggestions about affirmative action for the minority community, which includes reservation for Dalit Muslims in employment and income generation and a special reservation for Other Backward Class (OBC) Muslims from the share meant for Hindu OBCs.

Both these recommendations are likely to be contentious because OBCs are unlikely to give up their share without protest. To obviate this problem, the CPI (M) has suggested that reservations for Muslims should be in proportion to their population, not in absolute percentages.

Addressing a press conference, CPI (M) General Secretary Prakash Karat and minority leader Mohammad Saleem said the central government must immediately take up enumeration and a monitoring mechanism.

The party has sought greater representation of Muslims in state and central security forces, empanelment in recruitment boards of selection committees and smooth flow of credit in financial institutions and banks.

It has also asked the centre to consider incentives to include scientific and job oriented education in madrasas, after the west Bengal model.

It has asked the government to establish vocational training institutes, polytechnics and colleges in Muslim dominated areas.

Karat said the government should avoid the kind of tokenism that was in evidence ion the 07-08 budget, where, Rs 108 crore was provided for multisectoral development of minorities but divided between 40 Muslim-dominated districts, added up to Rs 3 crore per district, which was a pittance. The paid up capital of the minority financial institution has also stagnated.