INITIATIVES TAKEN IN PURSUANCE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE SACHAR COMMITTEE (as on 31-12-2008):

(a) Special area development programme:- 90 minority concentration districts (MCDs), which are backward in basic amenities and socio-economic parameters, were identified in 2007-08. A multi-sectoral development programme to address the ‘development deficits’ specially in education, skill development, employment, sanitation, housing, drinking water and electricity supply has been launched from 2008-09. Baseline survey to identify ‘development deficits’ has been carried out in all the districts and district plans are getting finalised. Plans of 37 districts in Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Assam, Manipur, Bihar,Meghalaya and Andaman & Nicobar Islands have been approved so far by the competent authority.

(b) All public sector banks have been directed to open more branches in districts having a substantial minority population. 523 branches were opened in 2007-08 in such districts. Out of the target of 500 for 2008-09, 136 new branches have been opened so far.

(c) Revised guidelines to improve the representation of minorities in government service and public sector undertakings have been issued by the Department of Personnel & Training in January, 2007. Since then, there has been an improvement in recruitment from 6.95% in 2006-07 to 8.65% in 2007-08 in Central Ministries/Departments.

(d) The Expert group constituted to study and recommend the structure and functions of an Equal Opportunity Commission submitted its report on 13th March, 2008. A Note for the Cabinet, containing the proposed Bill has been sent for legal vetting, after inter-ministerial consultation.

(e) The Expert group constituted for evolving an appropriate Diversity Index to measure diversity in the areas of education, housing and employment has submitted its report on 24th June, 2008. The recommendations of the expert group are under consideration.

(f) A National Data Bank, to compile data on the various socio-economic and basic amenities parameters for socio-economic religious communities, has been set up in the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.

(g) An autonomous Assessment & Monitoring Authority (AMA), to analyse data collected for taking appropriate and corrective policy decisions, has been set up in the Planning Commission.

(h) The madarsa modernization programme has been revised to make it more attractive by providing better salary to teachers, increased assistance for books, teaching aids and computers, and introduction vocational subjects, etc. This scheme is now known as Quality Improvement in Madrassa Education.

(i) NCERT has prepared text books for all classes in the light of the NCF 2005.

(j) Thirteen Universities have been provided Rs.40 lakh each for starting centres for studying social exclusion and inclusive policy for minorities and scheduled castes and scheduled tribes.

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