Newsletter April, 2001
Reconstitution of the Commission
The 3rd National Commission for Minorities was constituted by Govt. of India vide its notification dated 21st January, 2000. The new Commission assumed charged on the 24th January, 2000. Following is the brief resume of the members of the new Commission :-
Justice Mohammed Shamim, Chairman
After a post graduate from Aligarh Muslim University and LL.B. from Agra University, Justice Mohd. Shamim entered legal practice in 1959 and continued till 1964. He joined U.P. Judicial Service in May, 1964 and later became subjudge 1st class in Delhi in 1971. He was later appointed as permanent judge, Delhi High Court on 8.5.92. During the course of his judicial career, he has heard and disposed off several important legal cases.
Shri V.K. Dar, Member
After pursuing a teaching career at Govt. College, Chandigarh, Shri V.K. Dar joined Indian Administrative Service in 1955. During the course of his professional career, he held many important posts such as MD IISCO, Chairman, Sponge Iran (India), Ltd., Additional Secretary (Banking), Ministry of Finance, Secretary (Revenue), Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Industry, Chairman, Company Law Board, He was elected as Executive Director, Assembly of International Centre for Public Enterprises, Ljubljara Sdvernia and held this post from 1988 to 1996.
Padma Bhushan Lt. Gen. (Retd.) A.M. Sethna PVSM, AVSM, Member
After a distinguished service in the Indian Army from 1943-1983, he retired as Vice-Chief of the
Army Staff. He was awarded three decorations from distinguished service (i) Vishist Sena medal in 1972 (ii) Param Vishist Sena medal in 1981 and Padma Bhushan in 1983. He was also awarded the Dadabhai Nauroji Award for National Integration. Since retiring from Army, he has been deeply involved with a number of communities, social and charitable activities.
Shri Tarlochan Singh, Vice Chairman
After a Post graduation in Economics from Punjab University, he started his career as PRO of the Bhakra Dam Projects in 1958 and rose to be the Press Secretary to the President of India. During his distinguished professional career, he held the important post of Director, Public Relations and Publicity in the Ixth Asian Games in 1982. He is Vice President of the Indian Olympic Association and Indian Archery Association. As incharge of Culture and Museum Deptt. of Punjab, he established Maharaja Ranjit Singh Museum, Amritsar (1982), Guru Teg Bahadur Museum in Anand Pur Sahib (1978), Shaheed Bhagat Singh Museum in Khatkar Kalan (!982). As Chairman and Managing Director of Delhi Tourism, he developed 'Hauz Khas Village' and 'Dilli Haat' as attractive tourist destinations.
Shri Shamim Kazim, Member
After a Post Graduate from the Aligarh Muslim University he had a professional International Bankers course at Mid Land Bank, London. As Managing Director cum Chief Executive of the Bombay Mercantile Bank Ltd., he has extensive exposure to the financial sector and a deep insight into the economic and social problems of not only the Muslim minorities community but also other communities at large. He also holds the honour of being the President of All India Shia Conference, member of the Court of the Aligarh Muslim University. During the course of his social service, he was also honoured with the OISCA-INDIA Award (Japanese Award), Lion's International Award, Aman Award, 1991.
Rev. T.K. Lochen Tulku Rinpoche, Member
A post graduate in Sutra, Tantra and Buddhist Philosophy from Institute of Buddhist Dialetics, Dharsala an dother Monastic Universities, he is highly revered by Himalayan people as their spiritual teacher, guide and philosopher. He is the 19th incarnation of Latsawa Rinchen Zango who was instrumental in second diffusion of Buddhist in Tibet during 9/10 Century. He was born in Kinnaur, District of Himachal Pradesh. He is Spiritual Head & Director of Key Monastery, Spiti, Himachal Pradesh.He also had several prestigious organizations like Buddhist Cultural Association, New Delhi, Tashilumpto Monastic University, Karnataka, etc.
Shri John Joseph, Member
Shri John Joseph was also a member of the 1st National Commission for Minorities during 1993-1996. He was Chief Editor of "Asadhu", a Malayalam monthly and managing editor of "world evangel" a Christian weekly inMalayalam. He is closely associated with several social and human rights organizations. He was awarded special award of Honour in 1994 for social work by the All India Christian Leaders Conference. He is a multi-dimensional personality having vast administrative experience. He has extensive exposure in trade union field having dealt with thousands of workmen of different trades as the president of may trade Unions for 12 years. He is endowed with proven diplomatic skill and successfully conducted several missions abroad which were admired and appreciated by all.
Chairman writes to the Union Minister for Rural Development
Chairman NCM has recently written to Shri Sundal Lal Patwar, Union Minister for Rural Development inviting his attention to the 15 Point Programme for the welfare of minorities which provided that in various development programmes including 20 point programme, care should be taken to see that minorities secure fair and adequate measure of the benefits flowing there from. In various committees set up to oversee the implementation of such programmes, members of these communities should be actively involved. Chairman impressed upon the Minister to ensure adequate benefits to the minorities in the development programmes implemented by his Ministry.
Insurance cover to the traders of riot prone areas
The Commission in its meeting held on 16.8.2000 considered the plight of the traders especially those belonging to minority communities in the riot prone areas and observed that such traders are largely exposed to the ill effects of the activities of anti-social elements during communal riots. The Commission recommended to the Union Finance Minister that the traders of riot prone areas should be given suitable insurance cover by the Government.
No recruitment/competitive exams on the day of festival of any minority community
The Commission in its meeting held on 10.5.2000 considered certain complaints about the holidays of recruitment/competitive examinations by some Govt. recruiting agencies on the festival days of minority communities. The Commission observed that this is quite traumatic to the community concerned because the candidates belonging to that community are not able to fully utilize the employment opportunity in such an eventuality. Therefore, the Commission recommended that no recruitment/ competitive examination should be fixed / Held on the day of festival of any minority community and recurrence of such things should be avoided by all the major recruiting agencies like UPSC, SSC, Banking Services Recruitment Board, Railway Recruitment Boards, etc. This recommendation was sent to all the concerned recruiting agencies, all Ministries of the Central Govt., all the State Govt. and all State Minority Commission/Boards on 29.05.2000
Statutory status to the State Minority Commission
In the first meeting of the new Commission held on 9.3.2000, the Commission decided to address those State Govt./UTs which have not established State Minorities Commission or those who have not vested in them a statutory status. The Commission wrote to the respective State Govt. accordingly.
New Minorities Department in Karnataka
The Government of Karnataka set up a Separate Minorities Welfare Department, in response to the Commission's Standing recommendation to this effect. On the recommendation of the Commission, such Departments have already been set up earlier in Andhra Pradesh (1993), Uttar Pradesh (1996), West Bengal (1996) and Assam (1998).
Delhi State Minorities Commission Bill
The Government of Delhi has set up a three-member ad hoc State Minorities Commission. On 14th July, 1999, a meeting with the members of the newly set up Delhi State Minorities Commission was held in the Commission. A Draft-Bill for giving it statutory status prepared on the model of the NCM Act, 1992 was examined in depth on the State Government's request, which has since been finalised.
Corporation Status for Gujarat Minorities Board
The Gujarat Minorities Board functioning since 1981 was elevated to a Corporation by the previous State Government, but the implementation of the decision was withheld by the present Government. On the recommendation of the NCM, the State Government has now finally given it the status of a Corporation.
Jammu & Kashmir
Although the Commission does not have the jurisdiction over the State of Jammu & Kashmir, the Commission visited J&K during the period 30th March to 1st April, 2000 on the personal invitation of its Chief Minister. Besides meeting the Chief Minister and his senior officers in Jammu, the Commission visited a Refugee Camp and held detailed discussions with members of the Kashmiri Migrant community.
The Commission also attended the Bhog ceremony at Chhatisinghpura and expressed their condolences to the bereaved families. The Commission also met the leading elements of the All India Sikh community during this period. A report was presented to Government at the level of the PM and the Home Minister. The Government's point of view was reiterated in the Parliament alongwith the points made by the Commission.
Agra & Mathura
The Commission visited the Agra-Mathura area immediately after reports of the incidents atrocities on Christians in this area reached it. The Commission submitted a report to the Govt.
The U.P. Regulation of Public Religious Building and Places Bill 2000
The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment sought comments of the NCM on the U.P. Regulation of Public Religious Building and Places Bill 2000 which was sent to them by the Ministry of Home Affairs for their observation. The Commission after due deliberations on the proposed legislation recommended that the assent of the President may not be accorded to the Bill as the same was not constitutionally valid.
Secretary NCM visits District Bulandshahr
Shri B.S. Baswan, Secretary, NCM visited District Bulandshahr U.P. and held a meeting with the District Magistrate,Chief Development Officer and the SDMs with a view to have first hand information about educational and socio-economic development of the minorities in the district. It was observed that inspite of the fact that communal divide in the District has widened, the minority communities, particularly the muslim community was doing well in their economic sphere. Although education was still not being given its due attention by the minorities but there was a considerable awareness in them about rural development schemes.
Census data on Socio-Economic and Education status of minorities - Commission summons the Census Commissioner
The Commission earlier recommended that the Census data collected by the Registrar General of India particularly its Economic, Socio-cultural, Migration, House and House hold amenities tables should be cross tabulated on the parameter of religion as well, and should be published. This was to be ensured in respect of the forthcoming Census of 2001. The Commission called the Census Commissioner in its office on 29th January, 2001 and discussed in detail the difficulties faced by them in implementing the above said recommendation of the Commission.
Kashmiri Pandits
The Commission had in a special report made in April 1999 recommended to the Union Home Minister to accord State level minority status to the Hindus in Jammu & Kashmir and some other States. The present Commission in its very first meeting held on 9.3.2000 again considered this matter and resolved that (i) the Kashmiri Pandits should be declared a minority community at the national level and a formal notification for this purpose should be issued by the Central Government and (ii) the territorial jurisdiction of the NCM Act, 1992 should be extended to the State of J&K. This recommendation was conveyed to the Union Government on 01.05.2000.
Minority Educational Institutions in Maharashtra
The Commission summoned Secretary School Education, Govt. of Maharashtra.
A large number of complaints have been received from various organizations in Maharashtra about problems in getting permission/recognition for establishing Urdu medium school and upgradation of already established minority institution to Secondary and Higher Secondary level. After a detailed deliberations on the cases of 23 such institutions, the Commission summoned the Secretary, School Education, Maharashtra on 30th January, 2001 and finally recommended to the State Govt. of Maharashtra to review their policy about giving permission for establishment/recognition of schools with a view to ensure that minorities are not denied their constitutional rights to establish institutions of their choice in the State.
TADA - Deterives
The Chairman, NCM, who is also a member of the National Human Rights Commission, raised the issue regarding plight of TADA deterives in the country in a formal meeting of NHRC. Justice R.S. Verma, Chairman, NHRC agreed to plead the case of TADA deterives in the Supreme Court of India. The detailed information about pending cases under TADA, collected by NCM has been passed on to NHRC for further necessary action.
Identification of Minority Concentration Districts in the country
The list of 41 Minority Concentration Districts (MCDs) was prepared in 1987 on the basis of 1981 Census data. It was based on a broad criterion of 20% or more minority population in a District. The matter regarding revising the list of MCDs has been under consideration of the GOI in consultation with NCM, but the list recommended by the NCM on 1991 Census data was very big and was, therefore, not acceptable to the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, which wanted to reduce the list and put more stress on really backward region. The Commission, therefore, decided to identify the list in consultation with the State Govts., as they are better able to assess the actual status of minorities in such districts.
Cabinet Status to Chairman, NCM
The Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt. of India vide its notification dated 28th February, 2000 conferred the status of a Cabinet Minister and Minister of State of the Union to Justice Mohd. Shamim, Chairman and Sri Tarlochan Singh, Vice Chairman of the Commission, respectively. |
