(a) whether the Government has received any proposal to frame a concrete programme to
address the discrimination being faced by minorities especially Muslims;
(b) if so, the action taken thereto; and
(c) the steps Government has taken for the welfare of muslims during the last three
years, in each State?
Minister of Minority Affairs (A. R. Antulay)
(a)& (b) : The Saehar Committee had recommended that an Equal Opportunity Commission should be
set up to look into the grievances of deprived groups. The recommendation was accepted in
principle and an Expert Committee was set up in August 2007 to examine the structure and functions
of such a Commission.
(c) A statement regarding decisions taken on the recommendations of the Saehar Committee, which
examined the social, economic and educational status of the Muslim community, has been laid on
the table of the House on 31.08.2007. The Prime Minister`s New 15 Point Programme for the Welfare
of Minorities, announced in June 2006, addresses many concerns about the relative socio-economic
and educational backwardness of Muslims.