TheUnion Government set up the National Commission for Minorities (NCM) under the National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992. Six religious communities, viz; Buddhists, Christians, Jains, Muslims, Sikhs, and Zoroastrians (Parsis) have been notified inGazette of India as minority communities by the Union Government all over India.[1] Original notification of 1993 was for five religious communities: Sikhs, Buddhists, Parsis, Christians and Muslims; later in 2014, Jains were also added.[2] As perCensus 2001, these six communities consist of 18.8% of the country's population.[3]
Make recommendations for the effective implementation of safeguards for the protection of the interests of minorities by the central Government or thestate governments.
Look into specific complaints regarding deprivation of rights and safeguards of the minorities and take up such matters with the appropriate authorities.
Cause studies to be undertaken into problems arising out of any discrimination against minorities and recommend measures for their removal.
Conduct studies, research and analysis on the issues relating to socio-economic and educational development of minorities.
Suggest appropriate measures in respect of any minority to be undertaken by the central government or the state governments.
Make periodical or special reports to the Central Government on any matter pertaining to minorities and in particular the difficulties confronted by them.
Any other matter which may be referred to it by the Central Government.
The Commission has the following powers:
Summoning and enforcing the attendance of any person from any part of India and examining him on oath.
Requiring the discovery and production of any document.
The act states[6] that the Commission shall consist of:
a Chairperson,
a Vice Chairperson and
Five Members to be nominated by the central government from amongst persons of eminence, ability and integrity; provided that five members including the Chairperson shall be from amongst the minority communities.
On 9 March 2005 the thenPrime Minister issued a notification for the constitution of a high level committee to prepare a report on the social, economic and educational status of the Muslim community of India. Recommendations contained in the Report of the High Level Committee on Social, Economic and Educational Status of the Muslim Community of India headed by JusticeRajinder Sachar (Retd.):
Need for transparency, monitoring and data availability: Create a National Data Bank (NDB) where all relevant data for various socio-religious categories are maintained.
High quality government schools should be set up in all areas of Muslim concentration.Exclusive schools for girls should be set up, particularly for the9-12 standards. This would facilitate higher participation of Muslim girls in school education. In co-education schools more women teachers need to be appointed.
Increase employment share of Muslims, particularly where there is great deal of public dealing.
Enhancing participation in governance: Appropriate state level laws can be enacted to ensure minority representation in local bodies
Create a nomination procedure to increase participation of minorities inpublic bodies.
Establish a delimitation procedure that does not reserve constituencies with high minority population forSCs.
Enhancingaccess to credit and government programmes: Provide financial and other support to initiatives built around occupations where Muslims are concentrated and that have growth potential.
Improve participation and share of minorities, particularly Muslims, in business of regularcommercial banks.
Improving employment opportunities and conditions.
The Committee suggested that policies should "sharply focus on inclusive development and 'mainstreaming' of the Community while respecting diversity."[9]
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