Talking Points with MMA

The following issues were raised during a scheduled meeting at the Ministry of Minority Affairs held on 7th July 2011

Enrolments and School Continuation: jointly with Ministry of Human Resources. Special Tabulations from the Census data for district level estimates of literacy and school enrolments by religion and rural – urban residence. Introduce Computer education in all elementary schools. Human Resources Ministry GOI has not a single word on as to how and what policies were initiated so as to improve the school enrolment of the Minority/Muslims community in India. On higher education, the MHRD has not a single word as to how it intends to improve access through the OBC reservations or otherwise.

Occupation Based programs: In collaboration with Ministries dealing with: Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME); Employment and Labour | Minimum Wage Act | Child and bonded labour. SIDBI organizes programs for skill development under the MSME Act.

Zari, Beedi, Muri, Leather, Garments, Brick kiln, Recycling, Chemicals, Lower mechanical, Foundry and lath machines, Blacksmith and Iron works, Sericulture and Silk extraction, Handicrafts, Wood work and Carpentry.

Banking & Credit: Credit Access to bank credit and mass micro-credit programs – RBI. Analysis data compiled by the “State Level Banker’s Committee” found in each of the states of India. These data a compiled according to religion every year and the convener of this committee who generally is the lead bank in a state would maintain these data. The PSA available to be assigned to minorities is Rs. 128382 crores for the year 2010-11. This is 13% of all PSA and the PSA itself is benchmarked to be about 40% of all annual bank credit. The lending to the minorities is mandated to be proportional to their share in population of the region/state/district. Overall at the all India level the proportion is set to 15%. Thus this source of credit is a growing pool of bank finance available to the minorities under the 15 point program of the GOI. Banks are also mandated to organize entrepreneurial development programs as well.

Community Based Polytechnics: Community Polytechnic Scheme is run by the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India, New Delhi. It is wing attached to the regular polytechnics under direct central assistance scheme. http://www.wbdtet.gov.in/cpc.htm | this scheme is under review at the moment.

• Estimate share of flows to minority beneficiary in major flagship programs
• Evaluate the Minority Concentrated District Program of the MMA
• Measure Diversity in public Spaces- put up a mechanism for each state
• Establishment of an equal opportunity commission
• Data Bank and Assessment and Monitoring Mechanism
• Policy statements on as to how Caste Census will benefit or will it adversely affect the welfare and affirmative action policies for Muslims and minorities