BOMBAY: The state minority’s commission has recommended the recruitment of police personnel from a cross-section of Society in the light of the communal riots here following the demolition of the Babar Masjid. It also recommends maintaining the ratio of minorities to the population while selecting candidates through competitive examinations. These and several other important recommendations have been made by the commission whose chainman Mr. Hussain Daiwsi presented the Commissions first report to the chief minister Mr. Sharad Pawar.
The commission was set up in February 1992 by the state government following a recommendation from the national minorities Commission to “safe guard the interests of the minority communities in Maharashtra.”
Besides the chairman the state minorities commission (SMC) has 1members. While describing its activities the SMC has noted that the December-January communal riots in Bombay made the minority community feel insecure. Efforts by the administration to control the situation after the first phase of violence proved to be counter-productive. This was perhaps due to the fact that most of the police force belonged to a single community Had there been a police force having representatives of all communities the situation perhaps could have been controlled the SMC felt lt said it was necessary therefore that the government should consider the appointment of a police force representing a cross-section of society with personnel specially trained trusted and secular minded. The other highlight of the report is the lack of opportunities to minonty candidates in competitive examinations. In regard to this factor the SMC has noted that the directives by the Prime Minister 10 all chief ministers suggest special consideration to minonty candidates for employment. However the selection bodies are unable to act on the directives simply because the guidelines given to them for selection of candidates for any employment are strictly on merit.” If minority candidate are to be given Special consideration the only form in which it can be achieved is by directing the selection boards to see that in every employment as far as possible the ration of minority candidates is reflected to the extent of their percentage in the population. Minorities should be given adequate representation on selection boards and commissions the SMC has suggested.
Another Important aspect the SMG has dwelt on is the problems faced by minority-run educational institutions. It has noted that such bodies are not accorded a minority status despite the guidelines of the ministry of human resources development. Therefore the SMC has recommended that guidelines be issued to field level officers of the state education department his connection.
Article extracted from this publication >> June 24, 1994
