The M-deal

On Friday, the government placed in Parliament its ‘follow-up’ report on the findings of the Sachar committee. The committee had been tasked by the prime minister to inquire into the social, educational and economic status of Muslims. Its report, submitted in November 2006, gave statistical proof of shockingly low presence in educational and employment spheres. For instance, it was noted that a quarter of Muslim children in the 6-14 age group were not in school. And that in assorted government services, not more than 6 per cent of employees were Muslim. There was even a correlation in many regions between a high density of Muslim habitation and educational set-ups. Having gathered and disseminated this profile, the government was expected to be up to the next task: of addressing such anomalies in a coherent and inclusive manner. The plan of action laid before Parliament this week shows a glaring lack of application. More alarmingly, the timing makes the entire exercise dangerously suspect.

The ‘follow-up’ report is, by and large, a reiteration of the recommendations of the Sachar committee. There is in it nothing to invite confidence that the status of Muslims will be meaningfully addressed. An equal opportunity commission will look into possible discrimination against Muslims. Three scholarship schemes are to be announced. Besides making credit available to Muslims and targeting intervention in 90 districts where the proportion of minorities is high, the government says it will also improve the share of Muslims in jobs. Given the failure of such schemes to substantially improve the status of the Scheduled Castes and Tribes, the government’s response reflects inexcusable casualness in trying to understand the fundamental problems in the delivery of social goods.

As this newspaper has reported over the past couple of weeks, there is a scramble among many political parties to dwell on the Sachar report to score political points. There is in the air the suggestion of general elections in the first half of 2008. To use the Sachar report in a pre-election exercise is to commit the very faults that reduce empowerment to a simplistic slogan.