dna edit: Electoral gimmicks begin

The UPA government’s proposal to set up five central universities for minorities six years after the Sachar Committee report recommendations brought to light the dismal socio-economic conditions of Indian Muslims, smacks of electoral populism. The announcement at this late stage in the government’s tenure has been characteristic of the UPA which has failed to implement most of the committee’s recommendations. Coming ahead of general elections, the plan will be viewed with distrust by all sections, including minorities. These universities may have 50 per cent reservation for minorities, among whom Muslims comprise nearly 70 per cent.

Such populist gimmicks on election eve have become a regular feature in Indian politics.

After keeping the food security bill hanging for over four years, the Congress is now rushing the bill at the eleventh hour. Had the party been sincere about improving the condition of minorities, it should have sincerely implemented the Sachar Committee’s suggestions. It had enough time on its hands to prove its commitment to minorities. The Sachar report showed that the percentage of Muslims being enrolled in school and college and their representation in government jobs was much less than their share of the total population. It strongly advocated institutional reforms and reservations for Muslims.

Subsequently, the 17th report of the Standing Committee on Social Justice and Empowerment pulled up the Minority Affairs Ministry for restricting itself to scholarship schemes and not paying heed to the root of the problems highlighted by the Sachar  Committee.

Disadvantaged communities need affirmative action. But the question is what the route of such action should be. For instance, Sachar’s suggestions like universal access to secondary education in minority-concentration districts, remaining merely advisories to governments, could have been an effective intervention. Instead of pushing through clumsy last-minute schemes  — with no time to implement them —   political parties in power should come up with well thought out strategies to help disadvantaged communities.