Central law sought to implement minority panel recommendations

MUMBAI, MAY 21: The National Commission for Minorities NCM has recommended that a Central law should be enacted providing definite dire...

MUMBAI, MAY 21: The National Commission for Minorities NCM has recommended that a Central law should be enacted providing definite directions to all states and union territories to have a common approach for implementation of Article 30 of the Constitution of India. The Article gives fundamental rights to the people belonging to minority communities in India.

Rev Dr James Massey, chairman of the high powered study committee and NCM member, accompanied by two other NCM members Nemirath K and Asif Ahmed, on Friday released the results of their study on educational and socio-economic problems of minorities in India. quot;States like Punjab, Haryana, Gujarat and union territories like Andaman, have completely failed to implement provisions of Article 30. In some other states, Kerala, Karnataka, Maharashtra, West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh, the provisions are partially implemented. Tamil Nadu is the only State which has done full efforts to implement the the Article. It is extremely necessary that a Central law isenacted for implementation of the Article,quot; Massey said.

The NCM has also recommended that the Union HRD Ministry should revise the Government policy, norms and principles issued so far, be revised in the light of the study committee report. Another recommendation is that the economically and socially backward sections among the minority communities be identified and a special education scheme be launched for them at national level. Under this scheme, the students be given free education with free text books and stationary, to promote education amongst the communities. The NCM has recommended that special scholarships and loan schemes be launched for the students from the minority communities, especially for the students whose parents earn less than Rs 25,000 annually.

Massey expressed satisfaction over implementation of provisions of the Article 30 in Maharashtra and said the State Government had responded positively to the different recommendations and suggestions made by the NCM.

The committeemembers called on Education Minister Sudhir Joshi and Higher and Technical Minister Datta Rane to discuss various problems connected with the educational development of the minorities. Massey said Joshi assured the committee that the State Government would soon form a work group to prepare guidelines for implementation of provisions of Article 30 in Maharashtra. Massey said the committee was satisfied with the positive approach of the State Government towards the issue.