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Lucknow:
A National Conference on the topic of “Unpacking The 12th Plan
(Minorities Chapter)” on March 17 (Sunday) here at Lucknow in the
auditorium of Ganna Sansthan in Dali Bagh from 10.30 am onwards.
Dr. Saeed-ur-Rehman Azmi Nadvi, Principal of world
renowned seminary Nadwatul Ulama, Lucknow will preside over the
National Conference. The key note address will be delivered by
Maulana Mohammad Fazlur Rahim Mujaddidi, chairman of SEE (Strive
for Eminence & Empowerment).
Union External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid will be the chief
guest at the conference. While Union Minister for HRD Pallam Raju;
Dr. (Mrs.) Syeda Hameed, Member of Planning Commission of India;
Dr. (Mrs.) Rita Bahuguna Joshi, ex-president Uttar Pradesh
Congress Committee, (UPCC); Rajesh Pati Tripathi, vice-president
UPCC; Zafar Ali Naqvi, member of Parliament; and Dr. Mohammad
Muslim, MLA, shall be guests of honour on the occasion.
The conference would be web-cast live from 12 O’clock onwards on
Sunday till the end. The links on which the live webcast will be
available is as under:- http://www.cacademy.org
Maulana Mohammad Fazlur Rahim Mujaddidi, the brain behind the
conference, is worried as to why the welfare schemes for
minorities, starting from Delhi, do not reach up to the villages,
blocks and towns. This Conference is an effort to deeply
comprehend this problem and to find a way out so that the
objective of these schemes may be fulfilled in letter and
spirit, he hoped.
Maulana Mujaddidi, who is also Rector of Jaipur-based
Jamea-tul-Hidaya, said that after the 60 years of Independence,
huge socio-economic gaps are visible among different regions,
castes and communities. The socio-economic development policy
ignored the Muslims most, while the historically deprived SCs/STs
under constitutional safeguard were on the highest priority. The
system forced the Muslims to concentrate more on sentimental
issues, leaving the socio-economic development aside, while the
others mainly concentrated on it. The net result of this complex
situation was clearly reflected in Sachar Committee, Justice
Rangnath Mishra Commission and other reports. The Muslims are now
below the SCs strata and rubbing their shoulders to maintain
socio-economic parameters with STs.
The UPA Govt. in its first stint after the Sachar Committee report
promulgated the PM’s New 15-Point Program for the educational and
economic upliftment of Muslims. The 11th FYP, for the first time,
made a concerted effort to reverse some of the trends that plagued
the minorities in general and Muslims in particular. These
positive policy instruments showed desirable results in a short
period of time, and raised the expectations of various communities
across the board. However, there were teething problems in
implementation and it is expected that the stumbling blocks and
flaws experienced in this Plan would be fully taken care of, so
that they may not be replicated in the ongoing Five Year Plan, the
Maulana opined.
Maulana Mujaddidi said that the 12th Five year Plan (2012-17) has
been approved by the National Development Council, (NDC), in
December 2012. The approach of the Plan (Minority Chapter) is
excellent as most of the demands have been fulfilled, however the
allocation is less than the expectations. The 12th Plan has
announced some very effective Schemes on Educational
Infrastructure for Minorities. It is up to the community to force
the system and the government for its holistic implementation.
Meanwhile, a Concept Note on the topic of the conference said that
several consultations were held at the Minority Affairs Ministry,
the Planning Commission and elsewhere since 2010. While
formulating the 12th Five Year Plan the aim was to hold the
discussions in detail, keeping in view the larger political and
cultural context of the times that we are living in. The
consultations also underlined the aspirations of the country. Some
of the concerns that the consultations brought out included:
Feeling of Insecurity; Education; Employment; Health; Civic
Amenities; Women Empowerment; Bank Loans and Financial Assistance;
Participations in Democratic and Political Processes; Profiling,
Monitoring, etc.
Since India’s Independence, ten (10) Five Year Plans have passed
away into darkness. Neither the Government nor the community took
substantial interest in the issue of Muslims. The 11th Five Year
Plan (2007-2012) remained in discussions among the community, but
without looking for an opportunity to avail.
There have been teething problems in the implementation of the
Welfare Schemes. Lack of transparency, lousy procedures & guide
lines, corruption and lack of initiative by the Community itself,
are blocking needy people to get the benefits of Welfare Schemes.
Muslims must partake of their citizenship rights, and enjoy the
fruits of development, like all other groups. The rights of
Muslims to equal opportunity and equal access to all public goods
and services must not be hampered by the bias and prejudice in the
hearts and minds of those who implement these schemes, the Concept
Note stated.
(pervezbari@eth.net)
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