Sachar panel indicts govts for plight of Muslims

The section on the armed forces was missing from the report of the Sachar committee on the socio-economic status of Muslims in India which was tabled in Parliament today.

The report indicts successive governments for not doing enough for Muslims. Assam, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Bihar are the worst offenders, it says.

In its recommendations, the committee has suggested that degrees from madrassas be granted recognition for eligibility in defence, civil and banking examinations.

The committee has also suggested linking of madrassas with higher secondary school boards in order to enable their students to shift to regular education.

It noted that modernised madrassas were unlikely to satisfy the educational demand of the Muslim community and that the government would have to set up mainstream schools as well.

The committee has recommended setting up of an equal opportunity commission to look into the grievances of deprived groups like minorities.

"It is a well-accepted maxim in law that not only must justice be done but it must appear to be done. It is in that context that the committee recommends that an Equal Opportunity Commission should be constituted by the government to look into the grievances of the deprived groups," the report says.

It cited Britain's Race Relations Act of 1976 as a similar tool. While providing a redress mechanism for different types of discrimination, this, it noted, would re-assure minorities that any unfair action against them would invite vigilance of the law.

If minorities have such perceptions, it added, law must provide an "effective" mechanism that should examine their complaints and be able to give effective relief.

The government has agreed to debate the report in both Houses of Parliament before accepting it.