Reworked minority welfare scheme will be sent to Cabinet this month

“Our objective is to get the 15-point programme implemented and monitored in the best possible manner. The Cabinet will finalise the finer points,” A R Antulay, Minister for Minority Affairs told The Indian Express.

The revised programme will have increased emphasis on two counts: one, strong measures to deal with communal tension; two, ensuring “adequate minority representation” in police forces, jobs in public sector enterprises, railways and nationalised banks.

Though the programme for the “economic, social and educational development of the minorities” was first conceived in May 1983, it didn’t take off in most parts of the country for many reasons, including poor monitoring.

More recently, even the Rajinder Sachar panel on minorities, during its visit to the states, found the programme mostly absent.

Sources said that the new monitoring panel is likely to comprise a representative each from the five notified minorities (Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Parsis, Buddhists), state chief secretaries and other government officials.

As per the revised programme, district and police officials known for their efficiency and impartiality will be posted in areas identified as “communally sensitive and riot prone”.

Prevention of communal tension will be a primary duty and performance in this regard would be “an important factor in determining their promotion prospects”.

In the recruitment of police personnel, state governments will be advised to give special consideration to minorities. For this, the composition of selection committees will be representative with “adequate minority members on board”.

The Central government will be expected to take similar steps while recruiting personnel for Central forces. Public sector enterprises, nationalised banks will also be asked to give special consideration to “the recruitment of minorities”.

Together with the Ministry of Minority Affairs, the monitoring panel will seek “time-bound reports” from state governments and other agencies to ensure that the programme is effectively implemented.

Other aspects of the programme include providing “coaching classes” to students from the minority community to enable them to get through competitive examinations, upgradation of Urdu medium schools and madarsas, ensuring minorities get “proportionate and adequate” share in the schemes of the Central government, immediate compensation to riot victims and speedy trial of riot cases.

jayanth.jacobexpressindia.com