Sanchetana’s memorandum states that the Genocide of Muslims in 2002 had bred a sense of insecurity and Muslim parents were wary of sending their kids to schools and colleges.

Sanchetana, an NGO based here, presented a memorandum detailing the educational and socio-economic grievances of the Muslims in the State, to the Prime Minister’s High Power Committee, assessing the social, economic and educational status of the Muslim community in India on January 29. The committee headed by Justice Rajinder Sachar visited Ahmedabad, and nearly 60 people attended the consultation.

Sanchetana’s memorandum stated that though the Census 2001 showed high literacy among Muslims of Gujarat (i.e., 73 per cent, even higher than the one among majority Hindus), the high drop-out rate was biting into it to render the high enrolment at the primary stage ineffective. It said the number of Muslim students going to professional and higher education was abysmally low. (Gujarat’s 13 Medical Colleges have only five per cent Muslims among its total enrolled students).

It said the Genocide of Muslims in 2002 had bred a sense of insecurity and Muslim parents were wary of sending their kids to schools and colleges located far away from their homes. The government has adopted a discriminatory policy in giving grant-in aid to Muslim institutions because of which the schools in the Muslim areas have to be self-financed thereby charging high fee. Poor students are therefore kept away from education. It noted that the number of girls in higher education was on decline due to insecure conditions. Muslim teachers are not recruited in universities.

In matters of economy and employment, the discriminatory policies are evident from the fact that Muslim dominated areas are declared ‘Negative zones’ by banks and credit companies without any proper investigation and thereby Muslim individuals desirous of setting up or expanding businesses are denied the opportunity to avail of bank loans. Juhapura, the biggest concentration of Muslims in Ahmedabad with nearly two lakh population, does not have a single bank. Petrol bunks are not allotted to Muslims. The last petrol bunk allotted to a Muslim in Gujarat was in 1971.

The impact of discriminatory policies extends to even Gujarat Public Service Commission Board where no Muslim candidates are allowed to cross the threshold of success even though several eligible candidates pass the written examination.

Globalisation has impacted the Muslim arts and crafts such as zardozi, embroidery, crochet, minakari, bandhej (tie and dye of clothes), terracotta, broom and kite making work. Returns are dwindling and artisans are frustrated.

Juhapura, the biggest concentration of Muslims in Ahmedabad with nearly two lakh population, does not have a single bank. Petrol bunks are not allotted to Muslims. The last petrol bunk allotted to a Muslim in Gujarat was in 1971.

Communal holocaust has caused ghettoisation in Gujarat with Muslims concentrating in some areas. But government follows a policy of neglecting those areas and by curtailing or stopping sanitation and health facilities. Juhapura and Bombay Hotel areas best personify the policies. It noted that the government was following a policy of ‘Muslim free zone’ in Gujarat.

The memorandum outlined that there were 28 Muslim biradaries which were declared OBC under the government reservation policies, but they find it next to impossible to enter the government services. Sometimes, the admissions of Muslim students was cancelled after two to three years thereby ruining their academic prospects. The memorandum pleaded for inclusions of groups such as Angaris of Kutch region in the OBC list.

The memorandum added that the Wakf Board which had lot of potentially resourceful land had been rendered ineffective by placing some stooges at its head. It could be activated to put the lands for better use. It also suggested creation of new housing colonies near the Muslim dominated areas and possibly using the areas vacated by the defunct textile mills. It pleaded for recruitment of Muslim individuals in the police force in order to give it a more socially homogenous character and instill confidence among all communities, and placement of Muslim IPS officers in responsible and significant positions.

Sanchetana which held two consultations prior to making the representation, also advocated creation of a monitoring committee or legal authority to deal with complaints of discrimination against Muslims.

Those who represented before the High Power Committee included Dr. Hanif Lakdawala, Chairman, Sanchetana, Sheba George Lakdawala, Advocate Indukumar Jani, social activist, Gagan Sethi, Dr. Bachubhai Desai, Dr. Shakeel Ahmed, Advocate Sofia Khan, Afzal Memon, Justice S. M. Pirzada, Aijazkhan Pathan, writer and social activist Achyut Yagnik, Dr. B. B. Siddiqui, Fr Victor Moses, Mr. Ibrahim Shaikh, V. A. Isani, Prof. Abid Shamsi, Prof. Mukhtar Chunawala, Prof. Abid Shamsi, Md. Shafi Madni of Jamaat-e Islami Hind, Jamal Patiwala, Gazala Paul, Advocate Girishbhai Patel, Dr. N. D. Ghasura, Mohammad G. Desai, Dr. Mehrunnissa Desai, Ahmed Shaikh, Vazir Khan Pathan, M. G. Bombaywala, Habib Kakiwala, Farunk Bawani, Mehbub G. Malek, Yusuf Saiyed, R. K. Saiyed (IAS Retd.), Dr. D. A. Kherada, Haji Hasan Deda, Prof. Nisar Ansari, Juned Shaikh, M. D. Lohani and Prof. Darshini Mahadevia.

More information can be had from Sanchetana, 0-45-46, New York Trade Centre, Near Thaltej Cross Road, Ahmedabad-380054, Phone: 079-26587848, ifieahdad1@sancharnet,in or sanchetana@sanchetana.org

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