Govt committed to upliftment of Muslims: Antulay

New Delhi, Dec 18: The government will soon implement recommendations of the Justice Rajinder Sachar Committee report on the social, economic and educational status of Muslims across the country, Minister for Minority Affairs A R Antulay said today.

Mr Antulay told the Rajya Sabha during question hour that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's new 15-point programme for welfare of the minorities was a major step.

Also, he said, the report of a working group for 11th five-year plan set up by the Planning Commission contains a number of proposals for educational, social and economic development of minorities.

His response came after agitated members of the Samajwadi party said the Congress was responsible for the rampant poverty among Muslims over the past 60 years.

The Sachar Committee report has made out a strong case to put mechanisms in place to enable Muslims to engage in democratic processes and governance.

It says a carefully conceived nomination procedure can be worked out to increase the participation of minorities at grassroots.

Noting that over the last 60 years, minorities have scarcely occupied adequate public spaces, the report says the participation of Muslims in nearly all political spaces is low which can have an adverse impact on Indian society and polity in the long run.

The 404-page report was presented in parliament recently.

UNI