Neha Shukla, TNN | Sep 17, 2014, 03.37PM IST
LUCKNOW: Will the status of cabinet minister to its chairman bring a turnaround for UP State Minorities Commission? UP governor Ram Naik has questioned the 'haste and urgency' shown by chief minister Akhilesh Yadav to accord "cabinet minister status" to the chairman of UP State Minorities Commission. Now, it's the dismal record of the commission in carrying out its duties which makes the government's favour to the head of a statutory body which is 'near-redundant' in the state even more questionable.
The commission has replied in negative to almost every RTI query on its duties and functions. It says it has no record available on the number of communal riots that have taken place in UP and has done nothing to ensure effective implementation of Sachchar committee recommendations in the state.
The state minorities commission says it has done no study to assess the progress and growth of minorities in UP, as goes the mandate. It also has not monitored if the benefits given to minorities under various laws are reaching the intended in UP. When asked to provide the list of recommendations made to the government for betterment of minorities under RTI, the commission sought 'time' to compile the information due to "dearth of staff and resources."
In between June 2009 and June 2014, commission received about 18,445 complaints but it also included grievances of the commission's own staff and its internal correspondence. In that case, to say how many of these complaints had to do with the rights and betterment of minorities in the state is not possible. The commission has meted out no (zero) punishment in the five year period, recommended no (zero) compensation, took up no (zero) complaints for case studies, did no (zero) study on educational, social and economic issues of the minorities and have no (zero) annual reports to share.
Among the many objectives of the commission, the important ones are to study and assess the growth of minorities in the state, act against any infringement of the rights of minorities and raise the matter at relevant forums, investigate and resolve any discrimination practiced against minorities besides preparing and submitting reports on difficulties faced by minorities to the state government.
RTI applicant Salim Baig who had sought the information has now written to the governor highlighting the state of the minorities commission. A single-member Minorities Commission was established in UP In 1969. Later, in 1974, Commission was constituted with equal representation from every minority group in the state. It was given statutory powers in 1994.
The commission has replied in negative to almost every RTI query on its duties and functions. It says it has no record available on the number of communal riots that have taken place in UP and has done nothing to ensure effective implementation of Sachchar committee recommendations in the state.
The state minorities commission says it has done no study to assess the progress and growth of minorities in UP, as goes the mandate. It also has not monitored if the benefits given to minorities under various laws are reaching the intended in UP. When asked to provide the list of recommendations made to the government for betterment of minorities under RTI, the commission sought 'time' to compile the information due to "dearth of staff and resources."
In between June 2009 and June 2014, commission received about 18,445 complaints but it also included grievances of the commission's own staff and its internal correspondence. In that case, to say how many of these complaints had to do with the rights and betterment of minorities in the state is not possible. The commission has meted out no (zero) punishment in the five year period, recommended no (zero) compensation, took up no (zero) complaints for case studies, did no (zero) study on educational, social and economic issues of the minorities and have no (zero) annual reports to share.
Among the many objectives of the commission, the important ones are to study and assess the growth of minorities in the state, act against any infringement of the rights of minorities and raise the matter at relevant forums, investigate and resolve any discrimination practiced against minorities besides preparing and submitting reports on difficulties faced by minorities to the state government.
RTI applicant Salim Baig who had sought the information has now written to the governor highlighting the state of the minorities commission. A single-member Minorities Commission was established in UP In 1969. Later, in 1974, Commission was constituted with equal representation from every minority group in the state. It was given statutory powers in 1994.
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