The Hindu : National : CPI(M) panel discusses uplift of minorities

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Thursday, Nov 02, 2006
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CPI(M) panel discusses uplift of minorities

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: The minorities sub-committee of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) considered a suggestion whether to ask the Planning Commission to make a sub-plan in the 11th Five Year Plan so that funds could be earmarked for the uplift of the minorities.

The committee has party general secretary Prakash Karat as convener. Its members include Lok Sabha MPs Mohammed Salim and Hannan Mollah and others from State committees.

Considering the Justice Rajinder Sachar Committee report at its first meeting, members said the minority communities remained both economically and educationally backward.

The view was that although the Constitution guaranteed equality, it was not applied uniformly across the country.

Though there was reservation for the Scheduled Castes, the Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes, the minorities could not derive benefit since they did not fall under the classification.

The members shared their experience of working with the minorities.

It was suggested that instead of a generalised approach, specific steps should be taken, including exploring the possibility of whether the list of Backward Classes could be expanded to include minorities.

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