Muslims worse off than SCs: Sachar panel

Committee suggests developmental measures, not reservations

The high-level committee headed by Justice Rajinder Sachar has painted a grim picture of the social, economic, and educational status of Muslims in the country and recommended affirmative action for their uplift. But its report, presented to the Prime Minister on Friday, stops short of advocating reservations.

Set up in March 2006, the seven-member committee found that the condition of Muslims is worse than that of the OBCs, and, in some cases, the SCs and STs. It said Muslims are poorer, have a higher proportion of illiterates than other communities, and have limited access to education. It also noted that their representation in public- and private-sector jobs is lower than that of other groups, and the availability of bank credit for self-employment is restricted. In urban areas, it found that the community lives mostly in slums.

The committee has recommended a slew of measures to ameliorate the condition of Muslims. Enhancement of the legal basis to provide equal opportunity for Muslims and setting up of an equal opportunities commission are among them.

To deal with educational backwardness, the committee has urged the government to ensure mainstreaming of education for Muslims. It has suggested the creation of more teacher-training programmes and called on the University Grants Commission to help Muslim universities and colleges.

The committee has also exhorted the government to tackle the poor employment levels of Muslims in the formal and informal sectors. It has advised the government to implement measures to give Muslims greater access to credit from financial institutions. Banks have been called upon to enhance their level of assistance to skilled and semi-skilled Muslims.