UP govt plans 20% quota for minorities in welfare schemes

Before the meeting on June 17,the state government had made all preparations for highlighting its decision for the welfare of the minority community. Press releases for the media,mainly in Urdu,were also ready.

Minister of State for Minority Welfare Chitranjan Swaroop stated that the proposal had been finalised now and it would soon be placed before the cabinet.

“We have agreed in principle to reserve 20 per cent quota for minorities in government schemes. It will be soon be sent to the cabinet for clearance,” Swaroop said.

On Azam Khan’s absence from the cabinet meeting,which delayed the proposal,Swaroop said: “I had a long discussion with Azam Khan. The proposal was also discussed,there are no problems,” he said. He,however,did not given any reason for Azam’s absence from the cabinet meeting.

“We are ready with the proposal. It was returned from the cabinet with instructions to present it as per the availability of the Minority Welfare Minister. Now,it is up to the minister to decide and get it passed,” said Jai Prakash Pandey,Deputy Secretary of Minority Welfare.

The Samajwadi Party,in its election manifesto,had promised to treat all Muslims as ‘most backward’ and provide reservation to them like Dalits,in proportion to their population. SP leaders,including Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav,had announced they would support any move for constitutional amendment for reservation to Muslims.

The ground work in this direction began with Chief Secretary Jawed Usmani summoning a meeting of nearly 30 departments on June 5. It was discussed to reserve 20 per cent quota for minorities in various welfare schemes. Two days after Usmani’s meeting,Azam claimed that his plan was to get 25 per cent of the benefits reserved for minorities. Azam said it would be a step to empower Muslims and other minorities since they cannot be given reservation in jobs due to constitutional restrictions.

“I want the quota for minorities in government schemes to be 25 per cent. There is a constitutional hindrance in providing reservation in jobs to minorities. So we are trying to benefit the minorities in this manner,” Azam had said. Ten days after Azam made the statement,the proposal was ready and included in the agenda of the cabinet meeting.

As per the proposal,the aim is to ensure that 20 per cent of the beneficiaries of various welfare schemes,run by nearly 30 departments,belong to minorities. For example,20 per cent of the beneficiaries in the government’s Kanya Vidya Dhan scheme will be from the minorities. Similarly,if 100 hand pumps are to be installed in a district,20 per cent will be installed in minority-dominated areas.