Indias minorities land fewer jobs in higher education sector
NEW DELHI: Despite the Indian governments pronouncements about the welfare of minorities, the recruitment of minority communities in higher education job services in India continues to be less than four percent, according to a confidential survey instituted by the government.
The survey covered the recruitment of faculty members and administrators by the government between September 31, 2006, and March 31, 2007. It revealed that members of minority communities made up only 3.4 percent of total recruitment.
It showed that the government recruited only 37 members, out of 1,063 vacancies in grade A jobs in higher education, from all minority communities during the six month period under survey.
In grade B, only 22 minority members were recruited out of a total of 130 vacancies; for grade C, 71 minority community members were recruited out of 615 posts; and for grade D posts, 58 minority community members were appointed out of 661 vacancies. The survey showed that minorities got less than eight percent of the total number of jobs just 188 out of 2,469 vacancies.
All faculty members and senior administrators at universities and other institutes run by the HRD ministry are grade A services.
The overall proportion of minorities in higher education jobs, including lower grade office staff, is 7.6 percent. According to the 2001 census, Muslims form 13.4 percent, Christians 2.3 percent, Sikhs 1.8 percent, Buddhists 0.8 percent, and Jains 0.4 percent of the total population of the country.
Terming the report extremely disappointing, a Minority Affairs Ministry official said that the figures did not give him solace.
The focal point of the prime ministers initiative was to ensure that minorities are on important decision-making bodies in positions where they can influence decisions, or where they can set examples for others, the official said.
Based on the interim findings of the Sachchar Committee, the PMs15-point programme for minorities was announced in August 2006. The final Sachchar report confirmed the dismal socio-economic conditions of Muslims. The report said that Muslims had only 6.4 percent of government jobs in the education sector.
Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan
