By Akmal Husain
Societies and civilizations are framed in ages by continuous efforts of communities, where role of kingdom or in present day democratic set up of the Government machinery (through legislature, executive and judiciary) can not be ruled out. Numerous class wars and ethnic violence had taken place in each period of history and all over the globe for uneven social, executive and political representation in governance, despite a few examples where minority communities had ruled the majority. Though India has produced internationally acclaimed social activists like Mahatma Gandhi, Raja Ram Mohan Boy, Swami Vivekananda, Acharya Vinoba Bhawe etc but their impact could not bridge the gap between social, educational, economic and political status between the two major communities of the country (Hindus and Muslims).
Now the Government has realized the crux of the situation behind such disharmony which often erupts into social discord and communal violence. During the past successive governments, it has been realized both at the Union and state Government levels that Muslims (whose virtual population in the country is around 20%) represent decimal both in Government jobs: executive and Judiciary, as well as political representation in law making forums (around 2% at all levels). It is also well established fact that the youths who enter into lucrative positions both in executive and judiciary come from the communally biased family background. Hence, in the flexible administrative and judicial process, how a fair deal be can expected from the majority of the biased and communally sensitive Government Officials for the badly suffered Muslim community which is still suffering from the blot of country’s unfortunate partition despite producing luminaries like Dr S. Z. Qasim, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, Justice A.M. Ahmadi etc in the post independence era.
With the establishment of Ministries of Social Justice and Empowerment, Ministry of Minority Affairs, Bodies like National Minorities Commission, Minorities Financial Development Corporations, establishment of universities for promotion of Urdu, Arabic and Madarsah system, launching of P.Ms New 15 Points Program, implementation of Justice Rajendra Sachar Committee recommendation etc, the government has established the process for filling up the gap of fruits of social justice to such a large segment of society whose 90% people are either below the poverty line or educationally and politically victimized due to lack of sincere and goal oriented leadership. Although Government at the level of enactment of Rules and Laws is quite fair and sincere towards the community problems for social and economic uplift, but the attitude of the executing and enforcement authorities is so much disgusting that the beneficiaries are either not proper attended or too much harassed, resulting into the denial of beneficial process (likewise in financing, self employment generation or in providing government employment opportunities etc).
The websites of all the Ministries, Departments, Boards and Corporations etc are full of details of various schemes for minorities’ welfare, but very little is being implemented at the executing authority levels. Despite being mandatory to arrange monthly monitoring meeting of the implementation of P.Ms New 15 Points Program at the district level, hardly such sittings are taken place and even the district level community representatives’ nomination process in the so called secular state of West Bengal is still not completed by the Ministry of Minority Affairs. Sometimes if the RTI questions on the minorities’ employment and welfare process are asked from the concerned government agencies/authorities, either the answer is ignored or vague information is given. In a recent circular by the Chief Secretary of W.B. State Government for the follow up of P.Ms New 15 Points Program, some of the senior district officials had overlooked the directive with the remark that the same has not been marked or binding to them. However, in the administrative process, the circular issued by either Chief Secretary or any senior Ministry official is binding and obligatory to all the subordinate and concerned officials for the public wellbeing. Hence, there is necessity for introspection to analyze the situation and formulate the methodology to make Muslim community’s representation (in all spheres of governance: legislature, judiciary and executive) proportionate to its national population. Then only an even social set up and communal harmony in its true sense will establish for the happy, prosperous and powerful nation.
(Akmal Husain - Sr Scientist/Social Activist & Officer-in-Charge, Marine Aquarium &Research Centre, Zoological Survey of India, (Ministry of Environment & Forests, Govt. of India) Digha (W.B.) 721 428 Email: akmal_husain@yahoo.com)
Societies and civilizations are framed in ages by continuous efforts of communities, where role of kingdom or in present day democratic set up of the Government machinery (through legislature, executive and judiciary) can not be ruled out. Numerous class wars and ethnic violence had taken place in each period of history and all over the globe for uneven social, executive and political representation in governance, despite a few examples where minority communities had ruled the majority. Though India has produced internationally acclaimed social activists like Mahatma Gandhi, Raja Ram Mohan Boy, Swami Vivekananda, Acharya Vinoba Bhawe etc but their impact could not bridge the gap between social, educational, economic and political status between the two major communities of the country (Hindus and Muslims).
Now the Government has realized the crux of the situation behind such disharmony which often erupts into social discord and communal violence. During the past successive governments, it has been realized both at the Union and state Government levels that Muslims (whose virtual population in the country is around 20%) represent decimal both in Government jobs: executive and Judiciary, as well as political representation in law making forums (around 2% at all levels). It is also well established fact that the youths who enter into lucrative positions both in executive and judiciary come from the communally biased family background. Hence, in the flexible administrative and judicial process, how a fair deal be can expected from the majority of the biased and communally sensitive Government Officials for the badly suffered Muslim community which is still suffering from the blot of country’s unfortunate partition despite producing luminaries like Dr S. Z. Qasim, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, Justice A.M. Ahmadi etc in the post independence era.
With the establishment of Ministries of Social Justice and Empowerment, Ministry of Minority Affairs, Bodies like National Minorities Commission, Minorities Financial Development Corporations, establishment of universities for promotion of Urdu, Arabic and Madarsah system, launching of P.Ms New 15 Points Program, implementation of Justice Rajendra Sachar Committee recommendation etc, the government has established the process for filling up the gap of fruits of social justice to such a large segment of society whose 90% people are either below the poverty line or educationally and politically victimized due to lack of sincere and goal oriented leadership. Although Government at the level of enactment of Rules and Laws is quite fair and sincere towards the community problems for social and economic uplift, but the attitude of the executing and enforcement authorities is so much disgusting that the beneficiaries are either not proper attended or too much harassed, resulting into the denial of beneficial process (likewise in financing, self employment generation or in providing government employment opportunities etc).
The websites of all the Ministries, Departments, Boards and Corporations etc are full of details of various schemes for minorities’ welfare, but very little is being implemented at the executing authority levels. Despite being mandatory to arrange monthly monitoring meeting of the implementation of P.Ms New 15 Points Program at the district level, hardly such sittings are taken place and even the district level community representatives’ nomination process in the so called secular state of West Bengal is still not completed by the Ministry of Minority Affairs. Sometimes if the RTI questions on the minorities’ employment and welfare process are asked from the concerned government agencies/authorities, either the answer is ignored or vague information is given. In a recent circular by the Chief Secretary of W.B. State Government for the follow up of P.Ms New 15 Points Program, some of the senior district officials had overlooked the directive with the remark that the same has not been marked or binding to them. However, in the administrative process, the circular issued by either Chief Secretary or any senior Ministry official is binding and obligatory to all the subordinate and concerned officials for the public wellbeing. Hence, there is necessity for introspection to analyze the situation and formulate the methodology to make Muslim community’s representation (in all spheres of governance: legislature, judiciary and executive) proportionate to its national population. Then only an even social set up and communal harmony in its true sense will establish for the happy, prosperous and powerful nation.
(Akmal Husain - Sr Scientist/Social Activist & Officer-in-Charge, Marine Aquarium &Research Centre, Zoological Survey of India, (Ministry of Environment & Forests, Govt. of India) Digha (W.B.) 721 428 Email: akmal_husain@yahoo.com)
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