Social, economic and educational status of the Muslim community of India: a report

On 9 March 2005, the PMO had issued the Notification for constitution of the High Level Committee for preparation of Report on the Social, Economic and Educational Status of the Muslim Community of India.

The Committee is an independent body of well-known experts drawn from the fields of Economics, Sociology. Education, Demography, Public Administration, Development Planning and Programme Implementation. It is mandated to collect, collate and analyse data to prepare a Report and submit it to Prime Minister.

In response to the request of the Committee, information was received from the various Departments of the Central and the State Governments. On a similar format information was sought from many other organisations including the Armed Forces. The innocuous purpose was to know if Muslims were under-represented in some departments or any other sphere and reasons thereof so that the Government could take corrective steps. Such an approach is not divisive but is positive, an essential requirement for impartial and caring administration in its commitment for instilling confidence in the fairness of the government's functioning. Without considering such information, the Government may not be in a position to take any corrective action, even with the best of intentions. The Committee received data from the Navy and Air Force. However, the Ministry of Defence informed the Committee that it was not possible for it to supply the data for the Army. It also requested the Committee not to use the data which had already been sent to the Committee by the Air Force and Navy. Thus, in the Report, the Commit s not used the data received from the Armed forces.