India has marginally improved its position and moved to 130 among 189 countries in the 2018 Human Development Index. It is 7th largest economy in the world according to the International Monetary Fund report 2018. The World Economic Forum 2018 report ranked India at the 62nd place among emerging economies on an Inclusive Development Index. One of the key challenges is equitable share of the benefits. It is in this context that the study VISION 2025 was carried out to investigate the position of Muslims in India. The Study attempts to provide a blueprint for an inclusive development model-Sabka Vikas.
Exclusion is the biggest challenge for emerging economies. In the survey, it’s found that 89 per cent of Muslims face challenges as a minority community. Muslims are lagging behind in all indicators of socio-economic development. This Vision 2025 report seeks to bring together a vision for India for its Muslim population, focusing on the five critical areas of Health, Education, Political Representation, Employment and Security.
Healthcare facilities in Muslim concentrated areas are not adequate. Hospitals specialized in occupational hazard should be opened in to deal with diseases. The multi-sectoral development scheme as a part of Prime Ministers 15-point programme, should be implemented as a top priority in all minority concentrated areas/ towns. Adequate provisions should be made to appoint female doctors in public health institutions. Women friendly hospitals and education of girls will lead to further decline in population. In urban areas, the municipal boards should ensure clean water supply to households.
Muslim students suffer from several disadvantages at various levels. A number of hostile moves initiated by the centre and state governments have affected the enrolment of Muslims. In places like Assam and Jammu & Kashmir, which faces inadequate power supply, solar plants should be installed and lamps distributed. There is need to establish residential schools in Muslim concentrated areas. Efforts must be made to improve and secularize contents of the school textbooks curriculum. This scheme of modernization and remodeling of schools should have the definite objectives of making schools the centre of modern and creative learning to promote scientific temper and rational thinking. Muslims must give top priority to modern scientific education. The skill development program should take local needs, available skills and local language capabilities into account to create model towns for particular skill.
Unemployment is high among the Muslim men and still higher among Muslim women. An overwhelming 95 percent of the Muslims are self-employed. To combat higher poverty and deprivation among the community, technical institutions should be established in Muslim concentrated areas, and government based employment programs should be suitably implemented. Muslim youth should get reservation and the discriminatory nature of Article 341 should be removed. Credit denial to Muslims is a serious issue. RBI should strictly monitor the distribution of bank credit to Muslims. Attempts should be made to establish and promote micro-finance institutions in Muslim concentrated areas to overcome the small credit crunch. Islamic finance and banking should be introduced in phases in consultation with the RBI.
In the present Lok Sabha, just 3.5 per cent of the members are Muslims, and in major 15 states their share is below 8 per cent. In UP their share showed an alarming decline from 17 (in 2012) to 6 (in 2017) per cent. Major political parties ensured that very few Muslims were given ticket and still fewer Muslims were elected either at the Centre or at the state levels. The Delimitation Commission failed to address the issue disproportionate representation of Muslims in the gram panchayats, local bodies, state assemblies and Lok Sabha. The exercise has harmed the case of Muslim representation throughout the country. It is suggested that Muslim representation in the elected bodies should be just and healthy to foster dialogue and debate about measure and policies affecting them.
Muslims in India live in an atmosphere of aggression and suspicion having overpowering feelings of insecurity and discrimination. India needs laws like in Europe to deal with cases of hate, phobia, rhetoric and hate speeches. The Government should take initiative to enact legislation on communal violence on the line of the Communal and Targeted Violence (Prevention, Control and Rehabilitation of Victims) Bill 2011, drafted by National Advisory Council. Muslim youth should be encouraged to join the police and security forces. The case of Muslim under trials across the country needed to be tackled in a just manner. Muslim victims should not be denied basic rights and equity owing to belief. Legal measures and fines should be taken and imposed on the people who are found to be discriminating on the lines of religion in selling and renting of property.
There is an urgent need to develop infrastructure the Muslim concentrated areas and slums by implementing the various government schemes. The frequent disruption of electric supply and water supply in Muslim areas should be checked. There is need to overcome the conservative and regressive elements within the community for voluntary social reforms. Muslims should not face difficulty to get land allotted for mosque and burial grounds. The issue of Jammu & Kashmir should be resolved for a better future of its people and peace in the region.
We envision India in 2025, where all Muslims are assured of, and have access to, equitable and inclusive growth through public and private service delivery and are able to pursue their aspirations with optimal health, education, wellbeing and quality of life. This vision will be realized by empowering Muslims their institutions, through capacity building, accountability, diverse partnerships. As India seeks to regain double-digit economic growth and its geo-political significance, including Muslims in growth agenda will position the country as a role model among emerging economies.
(Amir Ullah Khan is development economist. Abdul Azim Akhtar is a historian.)
azimakhtar@gmail.com