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The GDP growth is soaring, and India is moving quickly to capture its place on the world stage. Real GDP growth averaged 8.6 per cent over the past four years, and the country’s economic planners expect it to grow by an average of 9 per cent a year through 2012.
Since 1985, India has lifted more than 100 million people out of desperate poverty in urban centres and the hinterland alike, according to a research by the McKinsey Global Institute (MGI). India’s population grew by 352 million during this period, and 431 million fewer people live in desperate poverty today than would have if it had remained at the 1985 level.
Looking forward, MGI estimates that if GDP grows by a modest 7.3 per cent a year over the next two decades, the country’s poorest people will continue to gain ground, so that the deprived segment-those making less than Rs 90,000 annually, about a dollar per person a day-will drop from 54 per cent of the population in 2005 to 22 per cent by 2025.
Census report says around 700 of India’s 5,161 towns have substantial numbers of Muslim residents. The report says Muslims have a relatively higher urban population and many live in urban slums where they have no access to basic needs of housing, education, health and employment. A new confidential report prepared by the Planning Commission, based on data from the census department, reconfirm the Sachar findings.
Since the economic activities in India are moving at the rapid pace, the Muslim community cannot afford to lag behind. To keep pace with the rest of the country, Muslims need to take education more seriously.
The community cannot afford to rest on its laurels. Sustaining inclusive economic growth will require the community to focus on improving its investment in the field of education. To accomplish these goals, a series of social reforms will be needed.
The community has invested millions in establishing educational institutions offering 10 plus, graduation, post graduation as well as professional and technical courses. Many communities have ambitious growth and investment plans in the field of education. None of the Muslim managed educational Trusts have released the blue print to move ahead in the current scenario. The time is ripe for the community to aim high and achieve universal literacy and quality education for every Muslim.
India is expected to become the world’s most populous country by 2035. One-fifth of the world’s population under 24 years of age lives here. While this kind of population growth represents a huge opportunity, it also highlights the need to invest substantially in human resource development, particularly in education and health care, and to create adequate employment opportunities.
The Muslim community must give due importance to the younger generation and utilise their time and talent for the overall upliftment of the community.
Building the education institution’s ability to ensure the timely and equitable delivery of services, will be vital for equitable growth. What’s more, the huge and pressing demand for establishing educational institutions cannot be addressed by the government, private enterprise, or the community acting alone. Only when all parties work together, can these needs be satisfied. Hence community must be more proactive than what it is currently.
India has the world’s largest school-age population. Unfortunately, however the Muslim community has remained backward educationally. The Sachar report has already documented the facts. Reforms designed to improve literacy rates must begin at the elementary school level. Experience around the world suggests that a good primary education in rural areas is critical. By and large, the Muslim community has failed to provide quality education to these students from rural areas.
Another key issue plaguing the community’s educational system is a dearth of competent people to manage the educational Trusts. The community needs competent people to come forward and give a new vision to these educational institutions. The existing management of these educational institutions must involve the new generation.
No doubt, many of the trustees of the educational institutions have done a good job, but like sports when even the best of performers give space in the team to the youngsters, even in the educational sphere, the older generation should gracefully give space to the younger generation who are more technology friendly and energetic.
It will not be easy to induct the younger generation in the management of the educational institutions. The current majority of the educational trust are either controlled by business family or politicians or retired professionals. Younger generation are conspicuous by their absence.
There must be a discernable shift from emotional and non priority issues to the educational issues. There must be increase in investment in the field of education. Every Muslim must decide consciously to either contribute financially as per their capacity or by giving their expertise so that the Muslim community continuously grows in the sphere of education year after year.
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