The initial findings of the Prime Minister’s High Level Committee, headed by Justice (retd) Rajinder Sachar, looking into the ‘‘social, economic and education status of the Muslim community in the country’’ show how poorly the state governments have fared in implementing measures for the uplift of the community.
RAJASTHAN
The committee has made some scathing observations about the BJP-ruled government. It found that the state government was not doing enough for the welfare, education and health care needs of the community.
The much publicised 15-point programme for the minorities are non-existent and no financial and physical targets are fixed in implementing these programmes.
The state government has few programmes for the minorities and the outlays of these programmes have been abysmally low.
Even the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan and Shiksha Abhiyan do not appear to have entered the Muslim-dominated areas.
Sanitation and sewerage facilities are next to nothing in poorer Muslim areas.
There was only one primary school with ‘‘improper building’’ and a few teachers in an exclusive Muslim locality of over 1.2 lakh population on the outskirts of Jaipur.
When contacted, Madan Dilawar, social welfare minister, said: ‘‘Muslims are our brothers and we all are children of Mother India. So why is there this demand for everything separate for Muslims?
They can study in the same schools where the children of other communities study. Every community has to follow certain procedures like furnishing guarantees in getting bank loans and there cannot be any exception to a particular community.’’
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