(a) whether the Government has adopted the recommendations of the Equal Opportunity Commission for the welfare of the minorities;
(b) if so, whether Madhav Menon Committee and Amitabh Kundu Committee set up in this regard has prepared drafts for the Commission;
(c) if so, the salient feature of the draft;
(d) whether the impact on the functioning of the National Minorities Commission has been assessed in the wake of setting up of Equal Opportunity Commission; and
(e) if so, the details thereof?
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR THE MINISTRY OF MINORITY AFAIRS (SALMAN KHURSHID)
(a) to (e): Government had constituted an expert group under the chairpersonship of Prof.
N.R. Madhava Menon to examine and determine the structure and functions of an Equal Opportunity
Commission (EOC) and another expert group under the chairpersonship of Prof. Amitabh Kundu to
recommend an appropriate diversity index. The former has proposed a legislative framework for
EOC and the latter has suggested a conceptu al framework for developing an appropriate
diversity index.
The details are contained in reports of these two expert groups received on 13-03-2008
and 24-06-2008 respectively. These reports are available on the website of Ministry of Minority
Affairs: www.minoritvaffairs.gov.in. The Government has taken into consideration, inter-alia, the
recommendations of these expert groups and the functions of the National Commission for Minorities
in it`s deliberation of proposing an Equal Opportunity Commission.