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Govt survey shows the sorry state of Muslims

Last updated on: August 19, 2010 00:24 IST


Photographs: Reuters

Muslims' enrolment at secondary level of education is less than that of the scheduled castes, a government survey has indicated.

Giving this information in Rajya Sabha in a written reply, Minority Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid said that the report of 64th Round (2007-08) of National Sample Survey (NSS) indicates that Muslims' enrolment at secondary level is 10.2 per cent of the total enrolments.

The survey said that the same for the scheduled castes (SC) and other backward classes (OBC) is 11.3 per cent and 12.5 per cent respectively.

...

Only 5 pc Muslims go to secondary schools in urban areas


The enrolment of the scheduled tribes (ST) at the secondary level of education is 9.8 per cent, which is 0.4 per cent lower than even that of the Muslims.

Only five per cent of Muslims attend educational institutions at secondary level in urban area. This is lower in rural areas, where only 4.5 per cent enrol at this level.

These are as per the 2007-08 figures, while the Sachar Commission, which had gone into the issue of socio-economic condition of Muslims, had taken into account figures from the 55th Round (1999-2000) and 61st Round (2004-05) of National Sample Survey (NSS) painting a grim picture of educational status of the community.

Justice Ranganath Misra Commission, which suggested remedial measures including reservation for Muslims and other minorities to uplift their socio-economic conditions, had used the data of the 55th Round (1999-2000) of the NSS and 2001 Census.

What government is doing about it

Image: (Inset) Salman Khurshid

Khurshid informed the House that the government has taken a number of steps for the welfare of minorities, which include Prime Minister's New 15 Point Programme and a special area development programme called Multi-sectoral Development Programme being implemented in 90 minority concentration districts.

"The government has taken several decisions on the follow-up action on the recommendations of the Sachar Committee and these include several initiatives for improving the conditions of minorities, including Muslims," he said.

Replying to another question, Khurshid said the government is releasing funds to protect the traditional languages of minorities.