Sachar Committee Report on Pathetic Conditions of Indian Muslims

SACHAR COMMITTEE SUBMITS ITS REPORT TO PRIME MINISTER
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

17:44 IST
The High Level Committee on the social, economic and educational status of the Muslim community of India, chaired by Justice Rajindar Sachar, presented its report to the Prime Minister today.

Justice Sachar informed the Prime Minister that the Committee visited a number of States and met a wide spectrum of people, commissioned detailed surveys and research papers by experts, reviewed published research on the subject, collated available data and interacted with various departments and agencies of central and state governments to obtain relevant information to prepare its report.

Presenting its main findings to the Prime Minister, the Committee informed him that the Muslim community is lagging behind other religious groups of India in most development indicators. The community is relatively poor, more illiterate, has lower access to education, lower representation in public and private sector jobs, and lower availability of bank credit for self-employment. In urban areas, the community mostly lives in slums characterized by poor municipal infrastructure. However, there is considerable variation in the condition of the Muslim community across states and regions. The Committee stressed the need for formulation of appropriate programmes to address the educational and economic backwardness of the community.

The Prime Minister observed that he had acutely felt the lack of authentic, comprehensive and updated information about the social, economic and educational status of the Muslim community of India. Such data is necessary for planning, formulating and implementing specific programmes to address issues relating to the socio-economic backwardness of any disadvantaged group. He stressed that one cannot wish away differences merely by refusing to measure them. Surveys and studies of various disadvantaged sections and regions are necessary to understand the extent of deprivation and evolve and implement focused interventions to ensure that development is equitable and inclusive. The Prime Minister observed that he had constituted the Committee for preparing such a database.

The Prime Minister said that India is a unique nation in the world since it has for centuries been the home of every major religious persuasion. India’s social fabric has been woven together by the co-existence of all religions. This experience has shaped our composite culture and our secular Constitution.

The Prime Minister thanked Justice Rajindar Sachar and other members of the Committee for preparing a comprehensive report. He stated that the report of the Committee will be tabled in Parliament so that it is widely discussed and debated upon, to enable a national consensus on how to improve the social, educational and economic status of the community. He stated that this would be in accordance with the Government commitment to achieve growth with equity, to strengthen our pluralistic ethos and build an inclusive society.

Palestinian Distress written by K.M.Sajad Ibrahim published by Abhijeet Publications, Delhi. Official release in 2007.

Palestinian Distress written by K.M.Sajad Ibrahim published by Abhijeet Publications, Delhi. Official release in 2007.

It is a comprehensive study on Palestine question right form its origin to the present day stalemate in the peace process. The most important focus of the book is on the former Soviet attitude towards the Palestine question within the framework of Marxian-Leninist ideology. It explains the undercurrents which motivated the Soviet Union to support the partition of Palestine and the creation of the state of Israel. But it was a blunder committed by Moscow. Since late 1950s the Soviet Union gradually realised the importance of the Palestine question. However, the Soviet Union was ready to openly support the Palestinian movements only since the mid1970s. A close observation reveals that the Soviet support to the Palestine question was basically a part of its cold war politics and not on its ideological ground. Finally with the fall of the Soviet Union the picture of Palestine movements also changed. The American brokered Middle East peace hijacked the Palestinian movement led by Yasser Arafat. Yet, the Palestinian movement assumed more aggressive in form under the leadership of Hamas and similar extremist groups. The PLO lost its credibility and Hamas was recognised as the legitimate representative of the Palestinians as it won the 2006 January legislative elections in the Palestinian Self rule areas. Now what is the role of Russia, as a successor of the Soviet Union? For all details read the Book which is appearing in the market in the early January 2007, although the same will be releasing in November 2006 in the University of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram.

Hamas and the Right of Return of the Palestinian Refugees

Hamas and the Right of Return of the Palestinian Refugees: A Stand Still in the Peace Process



K.M.Sajad Ibrahim







The misery of the Palestinian refugees continues unabated even after the formation of the Hamas government in the Palestinian Occupied Territories (POT). Most of the refugees trust the Hamas than any other group of Palestinians to restore their right of return to their homeland. It is estimated that more than five million Palestinians are refugees in neighbouring Arab countries since the formation of the state of Israel in 1948. The Hamas, branded as terrorist group by the US and West, emerged as the most popular Palestinian organization in their struggle for the Palestinian statehood. It has proved as the most successful Palestinian organization within a period of 20 yearssince its inception. Hence, the Palestinian refugees, the case of worst denial of human rights in the contemporary world, are jubilant in electing Hamas as their legitimate representative replacing Al-Fatah, a group founded by the late leader Yasser Arafat, for the first time. Israel and their partners in the West are very well aware position of Hamas as a tough partner in peace negotiations. The most important stand of Hamas is to adopt the right of return of all Palestinian refugees to their native land. They believed that no final settlement in the Palestine question is possible without addressing the just rights of the Palestinian refugees.



For the full article see India Quarterly(New Delhi), vol.LXII, no.2, April-June 2006, pp.132-150.