(a) whether the Government has taken cognizance of the report of National
Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO) regarding backwardness of Muslims;
(b) if so, the reaction of the Government thereto; and
(c) the corrective steps proposed to be taken in this regard?
MINISTER OF THE STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF MINORITY AFFAIRS (SALMAN KHURSHID)
(a) to (c) The Sachar Committee had used, inter-alia, data of 55th Round (1999-2000) and 61st Round (2004-05)
of National Sample Survey (NSS) for preparation of it`s report on social, economic and educational status of
muslim community of India. The Government has already taken decisions on the recommendations of the Sachar
Committee and the follow-up action of the implementation of the recommendations is regularly reviewed. The
status in this regard is annexed.
ANNEX REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) to (c) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO 1497 FOR 18.10.2010
RAISED BY SHRI. JAYANT CHAUDHARY REGARDING REPORT OF NSSO
Department/ Ministry-wise status of implementation on the follow-up action on the major recommendations
of the Sachar Committee
The Government took decisions on the recommendations of the Prime Minister’s High Level Committee
on Social, Economic and Educational status of the Muslim Community of India, pertaining to various
Ministries/Departments. The status of implementation of the decisions taken by Government on the
follow-up action on the recommendations of the Sachar Committee is as under:-
(i) Department of Financial Services (up to 30th September, 2010):
a. All public sector banks have been directed to open more branches in districts having a substantial minority
population. In 2007-08, 523 branches were opened in such districts. In 2008-09, 537 new branches were opened.
In 2009-10, 743 new branches were opened. During 2010-11, 162 branches have been opened so far in such
districts.
b. RBI revised its Master Circular on 5th July, 2007 on priority sector lending (PSL) for improving credit
facilities to minority communities. Since 2007-08, Rs.1,17,761 crore upto June 2010, which is 13.77% of
total PSL were provided to minorities.
c. District Consultative Committees (DCCs) of lead banks are regularly monitoring the disposal and rejection
of loan applications for minorities.
d. To promote micro-finance among women, 4,67,082 accounts have been opened for minority women with Rs.3373
crore as micro-credit in 2010-11.
e. All public sector banks are organizing awareness campaigns in blocks/districts/towns with substantial
minority population. In 2010-11, 1905 awareness campaigns were organized in such areas.
f. Lead banks have organized 313 entrepreneurial development programmes in blocks/districts/towns with
substantial minority population.
(ii) Ministry of Human Resource Development (up to 30th September, 2010):
A multi-pronged strategy to address the educational backwardness of the Muslim community, as brought
out by the Sachar Committee, has been adopted, as given below:-
(a) Under the Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya (KGBV) scheme, criteria of educationally backward blocks has
been revised with effect from 1st April 2008 to cover blocks with less than 30% rural female literacy and
in urban areas with less than national average of female literacy (53.67%: Census 2001). Under the scheme,
out of 2573 KGBVs, 427 have been sanctioned in rural and urban areas of Muslim concentration.
(b) Universalization of access to quality education at secondary stage called Rashtriya Madhyamik
Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) has been approved. The scheme envisages preference to minority concentration
areas in opening of Government schools. State Governments have been advised to accord priority to
setting up new / upgraded schools in minority concentration areas while appraising proposals under
this scheme.
(c) One model college each would be set up in 374 educationally backward districts (EBDs) of the country.
Of 374 EBDs, 67 are in identified minority concentration districts.
(d) Under the sub-mission on polytechnics, financial assistance is provided to the States/UTs for setting
up of polytechnics in un-served and under-served districts. 57 districts out of 90 minority concentration
districts are eligible for consideration under the scheme. So far, 35 minority concentration districts have
been covered for setting up polytechnics.
(e) Preference is given by University Grants Commission for provision of girls’ hostels in universities and
colleges in the areas where there is concentration of minorities especially Muslims. UGC has sanctioned 233
Women’s hostels during 11th Plan in 90 minority concentration districts.
(f) The Area Intensive & Madarsa Modernisation Programme has been revised and bifurcated into two schemes.
A Scheme for Providing Quality Education in Madarsas (SPQEM) has been launched with an allocation of Rs.325
crore for the Eleventh Five-Year Plan. It contains attractive provisions for better teachers’ salary,
increased assistance for books, teaching aids and computers, and introduction of vocational subjects,
etc. The other scheme, which provides financial assistance for Infrastructure Development of Private
aided/unaided Minority Institutes (IDMI), has been launched with allocation of Rs.125 crore for the
Eleventh Five-Year Plan.
(g) For subsequent access to higher education, the certificates issued by the State Madarsa Boards,
whose certificates and qualifications have been granted equivalence by the corresponding State Boards,
would be considered equivalent by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), Council of Board
of School Education in India (COBSE) or/and by any other school examination board.
(h) Academies for professional development of Urdu medium teachers have been set up at three
Central Universities namely, Aligarh Muslim University, Jamia Milia Islamia University and
Maulana Azad National Urdu University.
(i) Under the revised scheme, financial assistance is given for appointment of Urdu teachers in a Government
school in any locality where more than 25% of the population is from Urdu speaking community. The financial
assistance would be based on the prevailing salary structure of Urdu teachers employed with schools of the
State Government. Honorarium is also admissible to part-time Urdu teachers.
(j) The States/UTs have been advised to undertake community based mobilization campaigns in areas having a
substantial population of Muslims. In 2009-10, 19 districts having a substantial minority population were
covered under Saakshar Bharat.
(k) Jan Shikshan Sansthans (JSSs) are envisaged in the revised schemes. At present, JSSs are imparting
vocational training in 33 out of the 88 Muslim dominated districts in the country.
(l) The mid-day meal scheme has been extended to all areas in the country from the year 2008-09 and also
covers upper primary schools. Blocks with a concentration of Muslim population are being covered under
this scheme.
(m) All State Governments/UT administrations have been advised for using existing school buildings and
community buildings as study centres for school children.
(n) National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has prepared text books for all classes
in the light of the National Curriculum Framework-2005.
(o) Thirty five universities have started centers for studying social exclusion and inclusive policy for
minorities and scheduled castes and scheduled tribes. Besides, 1280 Centres of Equal Opportunity (CEOs)
have been established in 51 universities during 2009-10 and 1345 and 1367 such centres are proposed to
be established during 2010-11 and 2011-12 respectively.
(iii) Ministry of Minority Affairs (up to 30th September, 2010):
(a) An expert group, constituted to study and recommend the structure and functions of an Equal
Opportunity Commission (EOC), submitted its report on 13th March, 2008. This has been processed
as per approved modalities, along with the report of the expert group on diversity index.
(b) A Bill to amend Waqf Act, 1995 was introduced in the Lok Sabha on 27th April, 2010 and passed
on 7th May, 2010. It was then referred to the Rajya Sabha. The Bill has now been referred to the
Select Committee of the Rajya Sabha.
(c) The Government has accorded in-principle approval for restructuring of National Minorities
Development and Finance Corporation (NMDFC). A consultancy firm has been appointed to work out
the details for restructuring of NMDFC.
(d) An Inter-ministerial Task Force constituted to devise an appropriate strategy and action plan
for developing 338 identified towns, having substantial minority population, rapidly in a holistic
manner submitted its report on 8th November, 2007. The concerned Ministries/Departments have been
advised to give priority in the implementation of their schemes in these 338 towns.
(e) Three scholarship schemes for minority communities namely, pre-matric scholarship from class-I to
X, post -matric scholarship from class XI to PhD and merit-cum-means scholarship for technical and
professional courses at under-graduate and post-graduate levels have been launched. Under these
schemes, Rs.1148.37 crore have been sanctioned for award of scholarships to 54.91 lakh students
belonging to minority communities since 2007-08. Further, a fellowship scheme called Maulana Azad
National Fellowship scheme for M.Phil and Ph.D. scholars has been launched for implementation by
University Grants Commission (UGC) and 755 fellowships have been awarded to fellows/students from
minority communities during 2009-10.
(f) The corpus of Maulana Azad Education Foundation (MAEF), which stood at Rs. 100 crore, was doubled
to Rs.200 crore in December, 2006. The corpus was increased by Rs.50 crore in 2007-08 and by Rs.60
crore in 2008-09. It was further increased by Rs.115 crore during 2009-10 and Rs. 125 crore during
2010-11. Now corpus stands at Rs.550.00 crore. Under the schemes of MAEF, since 2007-08, 280 NGOs
have been given grants-in-aid for infrastructure development of educational institutions and 31145
scholarships were awarded to meritorious girls in classes-XI and XII.
(g) A revised Coaching and Allied scheme was launched in 2006-07 and cumulatively more than
20566 students/candidates belonging to minority communities have benefited from this scheme.
(h) A Multi- sectoral Development Programme (MsDP) was launched in 90 identified minority concentration
districts in 2008-09. Plans of 89 minority concentration districts in Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, West
Bengal, Assam, Manipur, Bihar, Meghalaya, Jharkhand, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Orissa, Maharashtra,
Karnataka, Kerala, Uttrakhand, Mizoram, Jammu & Kashmir, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Sikkim and Arunachal
Pradesh have been approved and Rs.1440.29 crores released to State Governments and Union Territory
Administrations upto 15th November, 2010 since launching of the programme.
(iv) Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (up to 30th September, 2010):
A National Data Bank, to compile data on the various socio-economic and basic amenities parameters for
socio-religious communities, has been set up in the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.
(v) Planning Commission (up to 30th June, 2010):
(a) An autonomous Assessment & Monitoring Authority (AMA), to analyse data collected for taking appropriate
and corrective policy decisions, has been set up in the Planning Commission.
(b) A comprehensive institutional structure for fostering skill development has been set up in Planning
Commission to address the skill development needs of the country including minorities. It includes National
Council on Skill Development, National Skill Development Coordination Board and a National Skill Development
Corporation.
(vi) Department of Personnel and Training (up to 30th September, 2010):
(a) A training module has been developed by the Indian Institute of Public Administration, for
sensitization of government officials. The module has been sent to the Central/ State Training
Institutes for implementation and it has been included in their training calendar. Lal Bahadur
Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA) has prepared a module for sensitization of
organized civil services and it has been incorporated in their training programme.
(b) State Governments and Union Territory Administrations have been advised by Department of Personnel
& Training for posting of Muslim police personnel in Thanas and Muslim health personnel and teachers
in Muslim concentration areas.
(vii) Ministry of Home Affairs (up to 30th September, 2010):
(a) A High Level Committee, set up to review the Delimitation Act, has considered the concerns expressed
in the Sachar Committee report and submitted its report.
(b) Revised guidelines on Communal Harmony have been issued. The Communal Violence (Prevention, Control
and Rehabilitation of Victims) Bill, 2005 is under consideration of Parliament.
(viii) Ministry of Urban Development and Ministry of Housing & Urban Poverty Alleviation (up to 30th
September, 2010):
For facilitating the flow of funds under the Jawarharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM), Urban
Infrastructure Development Scheme for Small and Medium Towns (UIDSSMT), Integrated Housing & Slum Development
Programme (IHSDP) to towns and cities, having a substantial concentration of minority population, necessary
steps have been taken to ensure that Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) for such towns and cities include
adequate provisions for minorities.
(a) Under UIDSSMT, out of total 764 projects sanctioned for 641 towns at a total cost of Rs.12928.93 crore,
108 projects costing Rs.2620.31 crore are for 108 minority concentration towns. This represents 20.27% flow
of funds to towns having a substantial minority population.
(b) Under IHSDP, out of total 962 projects sanctioned for 818 towns at a total cost of Rs.9637.99 crore, 131
projects costing Rs.1807.93 crore are for 234 minority concentration towns. This represents 18.76% flow of
funds to towns having a substantial minority population.
(c) Governments of Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Punjab, Rajasthan, Lakshadweep, Puducheery and Kerala have given
exemption to Waqf Board properties from Rent Control Act.
(ix) Ministry of Labour and Employment (up to 30th September, 2010):
An Act has been passed by the Parliament for providing social security to workers in the un- organized sector,
which, inter- alia, includes home based workers.
(x) Ministry of Culture (up to 30th September, 2010):
Meetings of circles of Archeological Survey of India have been held with State Waqf Boards to review
the list of waqfs which are under the Archeological Survey of India.
(xi) Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (up to 30th June, 2010):
Dissemination of information regarding health and family welfare schemes is being undertaken in regional
languages in minority concentration areas.
(xii) Ministry of Panchayati Raj (up to 30th June, 2010):
State Governments have been advised by Ministry of Panchayati Raj and Ministry of Urban Development
to improve representation of minorities in local bodies.
(xiii) Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (up to 30th June, 2010):
The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting launched a multi-media campaign in 2008-09. In addition to this,
Ministry of Minority Affairs also launched a multi-media campaign in 2009-10.