12-05-2006, 09:00 PM
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>CPM blames Queen for Muslim backwardness </b>
OUR POLITICAL BUREAU NEW DELHI
[ FRIDAY, DECEMBER 01, 2006 01:01:21 PM], Economic Times
DelhiEdition
THE CPM has blamed the colonial legacy for the abysmal status of Muslims in West Bengal. Blaming the British, Partition and immigration for the dismal state of Muslims, as found by the Sachar committee, the Left party admitted new initiatives were needed to change the scenario.
The party quoted figures from a 1871 study, Our Indian Musalmans, showing Muslims in government jobs in Bengal province - assistant engineers (three grades): Hindu 14, Muslim 2; sub-engineers and supervisors: Hindu 24, Muslim 1; overseers: Hindu 63, Muslim 2; accounts department: Hindu 50, Muslim 0; registered legal counsel: Hindu 239, Muslim 1 and so on. "However, there is nothing on record to show any concrete steps were ordered to correct this imbalance . Modern day Bengal has inherited this legacy," CPM polit bureau member Sitaram Yechury said. The study was conducted when viceroy Lord Meo asked William Hunter to study the causes of Muslim unrest.
In an editorial in People's Democracy , soon after the Sachar committee report was tabled in Parliament, Mr Yechury cited more reasons for the present condition of Muslims in the Left Front-ruled state. He said that Partition saw the migration of Nawabs, landlords and the wealthy to East Pakistan. "Post-independence decades compounded the problem by various waves of immigration of Muslim populations. Kolkata continues to attract poorest of Muslims from neighbouring states in search of livelihood and survival."
The Sachar committee report on education and socioeconomic status of Muslims said that in West Bengal, along with Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Assam, the situation is particularly grave. West Bengal figures among states that are at the bottom of the ladder in terms of Muslim employment . The share of Muslims in government jobs is 4.2% against a population of 25.2% in the state, expenditure by Muslims is less than that of Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes, Muslims in judicial services in the state are merely 5% and there are no Muslims in higher positions in state PSUs.
<b>The CPM, which came out with its wish list for 'positive affirmative action' from the UPA government, has demanded 15% of all government plan expenditures be earmarked for improving the welfare of minorities. Mr Yechury said West Bengal chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya has raised the issue with the planning commission during discussions on the 11th Plan. At the state level, the state government has formally decided through a cabinet resolution to formulate and implement such a subplan </b>, he said.
"This is the direction in which we shall have to move at the All-India level. Doing justice to the findings of the Sachar committee means to translate tangible benefits to the Muslim minorities as an obligation demanded of a responsible government in modern India," the CPM MP said. Mr Yechury asked the UPA not to 'shirk from this responsibility' .
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/arti...669052.cms <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
OUR POLITICAL BUREAU NEW DELHI
[ FRIDAY, DECEMBER 01, 2006 01:01:21 PM], Economic Times
DelhiEdition
THE CPM has blamed the colonial legacy for the abysmal status of Muslims in West Bengal. Blaming the British, Partition and immigration for the dismal state of Muslims, as found by the Sachar committee, the Left party admitted new initiatives were needed to change the scenario.
The party quoted figures from a 1871 study, Our Indian Musalmans, showing Muslims in government jobs in Bengal province - assistant engineers (three grades): Hindu 14, Muslim 2; sub-engineers and supervisors: Hindu 24, Muslim 1; overseers: Hindu 63, Muslim 2; accounts department: Hindu 50, Muslim 0; registered legal counsel: Hindu 239, Muslim 1 and so on. "However, there is nothing on record to show any concrete steps were ordered to correct this imbalance . Modern day Bengal has inherited this legacy," CPM polit bureau member Sitaram Yechury said. The study was conducted when viceroy Lord Meo asked William Hunter to study the causes of Muslim unrest.
In an editorial in People's Democracy , soon after the Sachar committee report was tabled in Parliament, Mr Yechury cited more reasons for the present condition of Muslims in the Left Front-ruled state. He said that Partition saw the migration of Nawabs, landlords and the wealthy to East Pakistan. "Post-independence decades compounded the problem by various waves of immigration of Muslim populations. Kolkata continues to attract poorest of Muslims from neighbouring states in search of livelihood and survival."
The Sachar committee report on education and socioeconomic status of Muslims said that in West Bengal, along with Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Assam, the situation is particularly grave. West Bengal figures among states that are at the bottom of the ladder in terms of Muslim employment . The share of Muslims in government jobs is 4.2% against a population of 25.2% in the state, expenditure by Muslims is less than that of Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes, Muslims in judicial services in the state are merely 5% and there are no Muslims in higher positions in state PSUs.
<b>The CPM, which came out with its wish list for 'positive affirmative action' from the UPA government, has demanded 15% of all government plan expenditures be earmarked for improving the welfare of minorities. Mr Yechury said West Bengal chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya has raised the issue with the planning commission during discussions on the 11th Plan. At the state level, the state government has formally decided through a cabinet resolution to formulate and implement such a subplan </b>, he said.
"This is the direction in which we shall have to move at the All-India level. Doing justice to the findings of the Sachar committee means to translate tangible benefits to the Muslim minorities as an obligation demanded of a responsible government in modern India," the CPM MP said. Mr Yechury asked the UPA not to 'shirk from this responsibility' .
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/arti...669052.cms <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->