People's Democracy

10% Reservation For Economically-Backward Muslim Communities

B Prasant

THE Bengal Left Front government has decided that there should be as per the principal recommendations of the Mishra Commission, a ten per cent reservation for the economically weaker sections of the Muslims.  The reservation excludes the �creamy layer.� 

The main aspects of the recommendations being initiated are:

�        For eligibility, annual income of the concerned person must be below Rs four lakh fifty thousand

�        This is the first instance of reservation for Muslims in the country

�        A decision has been kept in consideration for similar reservation for Sikhs and Christians

�        Of the 66 communities marked up as OBC�s, 12 are Muslims.

�        The OBC Muslims comprise 16,38,000 or 8.3 per cent of the total OBC population pool of Bengal.

The more populous of the Muslim OBC�s include Jola, Fakir/Sain, Hawari, Dhunia, Kasai, Nashya Sheikh, Pahadia Muslim, Shershabadia, Rayeen/Kunjra, Hajjam, Chaudhooli, and Patidar.  Over and above this list, further, newer applicants are the Khotta Muslims, Sardars, and Beldars.

The cases of four other backward Muslim communities, i.e., Mahaldar, Abdaal, Baasni, and Kaankhalifa are under active consideration, the chief minister said at the Writers�� Buildings whilst announcing the new category of reservation.