TN announces quota for Muslims, Christians

Chennai, Sep 13: The Tamil Nadu government today announced reservation for Muslim and Christian minority communities in educational institutions and employment in the state.

Announcing this, Chief Minister M Karunanidhi said this was a gift to the Muslims and Christians on the occasion of late leader C N Annadorai's 99th birth anniversary to be observed on September 15.

An Ordinance, providing 3.5 per cent reservation each to Muslims and Christians from the 30 per cent quota for backward classes, was being promulgated, he said.

This would come into effect from September 15, an official release said.

Observing that the DMK government was always for the welfare of the minorities, Mr Karunanidhi said promulgation of the Ordinance followed a promise given to them in the May 2006 election manifesto and announcement in the Governor's address to the State Assembly on May 24 last year. He said Finance Minister K Anbazhagan, in his 2006-07 budget, had announced that the government would take steps to provide reservation for minorities in the state and also urged the Centre to provide reservation for Muslim and Christian minority communities in educational institutions and employment.

Mr Karunanidhi said the quota for Muslims and Christians were announced following recommendations made by the Justice Janardhanam Committee, based on the population statistics of the Backward Classes in Hindus, Muslims and Christians given in the Second Backward Classes Welfare Board headed by J A Ambashankar. UNI