ATR on Sachar findings likely to be tabled in budget session

New Delhi, Jan 30 (UNI) The government is likely to present in the coming budget session of Parliament an Action Taken Report (ATR) on the recommendations of the Sachar Committee, appointed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to look into the social, economic and educational backwardness of Muslims.

Minister for Minorities Affairs A R Antulay has already said the report will be implemented in toto.

''There will be something on the Sachar Committee findings in Parliament,'' Secretary in the Ministry M N Prasad told UNI.

He said work in a number of areas was being done and the Ministry hoped to come out with something concrete during the budget session.

The Committee's report had been tabled in the last session of Parliament. Its findings showed that Muslims were lagging behind in education and employment and their status in this respect was close to that of Scheduled Castes. The report recommended urgent action to bring the community at par with other sections of the population.

While the report had by and large been hailed, Opposition BJP had accused the Manmohan Singh government of trying to woo Muslims through the report in view of coming elections in several states.

The Sachar findings have started a nationwide debate on the backwardness of Muslims and underscored the necessity of taking urgent action to uplift them.

UNI