Almost a year after the Prime Minister-appointed Sachar Committee, headed by Justice Rajinder Sachar, recommended a number of measures to improve the living condition of minorities, the government on Friday tabled in Parliament a statement on the ?follow-up action? based on it.
The statement claimed that the government will provide more job opportunities and financial assistance to minorities based on the recommendations of the report. Minority affairs minister AR Antulay read out the statement, which was an action taken report on the commission?s recommendations in all its essence.
The government, meanwhile, has announced a discussion over the Sachar report in both the Houses of Parliament on September 5-6. However, the Opposition BJP and the Left parties were dissatisfied with the government?s move for different reasons. BJP spokesperson VK Malhotra said the government?s statement is yet another an attempt to divide the country on religious lines. On the other hand, the CPI(M) blasted the government?s moves by terming it as ?mere tokenism.? ?The Sachar Committee report and its recommendations are vast and serious. The government?s actions are not enough. This is tokenism,? said CPI(M)leader Mohammed Salim.
Earlier, the government said in the statement that it has issued guidelines to improve the representation of minorities in government, public sector enterprises and public sector banks. The Centre also said that it has been decided in-principle to set up an Equal Opportunity Commission ?to look into the grievances regarding discrimination.? The government said it has also proposed three scholarship schemes ?exclusively for the minorities.?