The latest debate on Muslim uplift is whether a huge amount of money should be vested to lift the standard of Muslims or not. Indeed, a tough job. But, considering the Zoya Hasan Committee report working on minorities, a sub committee of the Planning Commission has recommended a total outlay of 5,460 crore for the educational uplift of the Muslim community.
The committee is headed by Dr. Vimla Thorat who has to suggest new programmes and schemes for the 11th Five-Year Plan for the educational uplift of the community. “It was surprising to note that Muslims were the worst in terms of education among all religious groups and around two crore children in the community have never seen a school,” Thorat said.
The committee has suggested an 11-point Muslim community oriented program for the upcoming 11th Five Year Plan starting in 2007 and the recommendations would yield 5,460 crore if the plans were accepted.
The major suggestions include allotment of around Rs 2,500 crore under the District Elementary Education Programme (DEEP) for setting up schools in Muslim-dominated localities. It also recommends giving scholarships costing 2000 crore, building of hostels and study centres (Rs 450 crore) and a National Urdu Book Trust (Rs 200 crore).
The committee has recommended that the community be armed with specific vocational training, so that the uneducated grown-ups and dropouts are benefited. This can be done by spending Rs 220 crore.
The committee has suggested that ‘grants-in-aid’ be provided to the schools providing education to Muslim students, for which a sum of Rs 50 crore needed to be kept aside in the 11th Plan.