Andhra govt provides 5% reservation for Muslims

Reservation in employment, education with immediate effect

As a partial fulfillment of the election promise it had made, the Andhra Pradesh government on Monday announced five per cent reservations for the Muslim community in employment and education.

The state government said its orders on providing five per cent reservation to Muslims would come into force with immediate effect.

The state government in its orders has created a special category, BC-E, for this purpose. The government cited a study conducted by the Commissioner of Minorities on the socio-economic conditions of Muslims as the basis for the above decision.

According to the study report submitted by the Commissioner, around 65 per cent of the 64 lakh Muslim population in the state had been living below the poverty line, with an annual income of Rs 11,000 and below.

Another 16 per cent of them are living with an annual income of Rs 44,500 or below. The Commissioner of Minorities recommendation of a five per cent reservation was accepted by the government.

Much before the above study report, the Justice Puttuswamy Commission in its interim report had recommended the inclusion of Muslims in the Backward Classes list by providing 10 per cent reservations.

In its election manifesto, the Congress party had promised to look in to the old proposals by appointing a new commission. But the government has decided on the issue without further delays, much to the delight of the Muslim populace in the state.

Certain most backward sects like 'Dudekula' of the Muslim community had been brought under the BC category earlier. But the latest order provides reservation to the Muslims purely on economic criteria.

According to officials, Muslims who have an annual income of Rs 44,500 or below would now be eligible for availing of the reservation quota.

The literacy rate among Muslims is only 18 per cent as compared to 44 per cent rate among other communities in the state as per the 1991 census. The literacy rate among Muslim women is only four per cent according to the census report.