A group of NRIs, in collaboration with the Center for Study of Social Exclusion, Delhi, and the National Law School of India, Nagarbhavi, Bangalore, are making a representation to Central government in connection with the Equal Opportunity Commission Bill, which will be introduced soon by the government.

The setting up of such a Commission was recommended by the Sachar Committee Report in 2006 (Report on Social, Economic and Educational Status of the Muslim Community of India), according to M.H.Zulqarnain, a Riyadh-based NRI, who has been actively involved in programs for the welfare of Muslims.

The Sachar Committee Report noted that one in 120 Hindu general category students enroll in technical education, while the ratio is 1:1,000 for Muslim students. The number of students who have never been to school is the highest among Muslims, according to the report, which also refers to the community lagging behind others in the civil service as well.

The Ministry of Minority Affairs has also set up a committee under the chairmanship of Dr. Menon to examine the structure of the proposed Equal Opportunity Commission. The Committee’s report, submitted last year, will form the basis of the proposed Equal Opportunity Commission Bill (EOC Bill).

In this context, Zulqarnain points out that they have drafted an open letter to the Ministry of Minority Affairs, highlighting some of the key concerns over the draft bill. They are calling for a public debate on the proposed bill before it is piloted in the Lok Sabha. Once it sails through, they will forward copies of the petition to the Ministry of Minority Affairs and the Prime Minister, while releasing the letter for publication in at least two national newspapers. The full text of the letter is available at http://www.nls.ac.in/csse/additional%20resources.htm. Alternatively those interested could contact him on: MHZulqarnain (mhzulqarnain@...) for endorsement of the letter before June 30. I tried to log on to the above website. What turned up, however, was a list of sponsored listings, leaving me clueless.

At another level, a noted philanthropist from Hyderabad has embarked on a project to coach students who wish to appear for Group – I and Group –II examinations conducted by the AP government for the recruitment of district level officials in the state.

An email circulated by Riyadh-based Tanzeem Hum Hindustani quotes Ghiasuddin Babukhan, managing trustee, Foundation for Economic and Educational Development (FEED) in Hyderabad, as saying that there are very few Muslims in these positions, since the students hailing from rural areas are not aware of the importance of these posts. As such, they do not appear for those examinations by attending coaching classes run by private institutes.

Further, according to Babukhan, several vacancies are going to be filled in shortly by the government through the A.P. Public Service Commission. “It is a rare opportunity for recruitment on a large scale. Keeping all these points in view, we have planned to encourage students to appear for this examination and called for applications from the interested students, conducted a written test and short-listed some of them. After a final interview, we have selected eight girls and eight boys and are providing them coaching to appear for this examination.”

The circular points out that coaching for the students will be for three months. Since they all hail from rural areas, FEED has arranged for their accommodation in local private hostels, so that they could attend classes in a reputed coaching center. The tuition fee for each student is said to be Rs.12,000, besides hostel and other expenses that come to Rs.10,000. Thus the total cost for 16 students adds up to around Rs.3,52,000 ( $ 7,200).

FEED has urged charitable-minded NRIs to pitch in with contributions for sponsoring these students. The sponsorship amount for each student is Rs.22,000 ($ 450). Donations could be sent to their email ID: support@.... Remittances may be sent online through their website: www.feed-hyd.org by using credit card or through personal checks in favor of the “Foundation for Economic and Educational Development” payable in Hyderabad.

I had met Ghiasuddin Babukhan in Hyderabad last April and was impressed with the range of his philanthropic activities. What is remarkable is the fact that he has dedicated the entire income from a plush building rented out to HSBC in Banjara Hill to the education of poor Muslim children. So NRIs may rest assured that any donation for this noble cause will be utilized by a reputed organization that runs 66 Urdu medium and three English medium schools purely for a charitable cause. The donors will, of course, earn an unremitting reward from the Almighty for the educational uplift of the poor and downtrodden Muslims.