Sachar Committee: Tell-Tale facts about Muslims in Gujarat - Shri Advani

Published By : Admin | May 17, 2010 | 21:05 IST

In my blog dated 3rd May, I had written about the Swarna Jayanti Samaroh of Gujarat. In this I had pointed out how Narendra Bhai Modi had proved a unique Chief Minister who had converted a prashasanik programme into a People’s Programme and made every citizen feel a proud participant in the sankalp to make Gujarat a model state in every sense of the word.

Generally speaking, by now, people have widely come to acknowledge that in terms of honest governance and development of Gujarat, Narendra Bhai’s achievements are beyond dispute. What is often questioned is how harmonious are inter-communal relations in the state, and specifically speaking, how happy and contented the Muslims are in the State.

In 2006 Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh appointed a high power committee headed by Justice Shri Rajinder Sachar to make a detailed study of the economic, social and educational conditions of Muslims in the country.

The Sachar Committee after completing the task assigned to it, submitted a detailed Report of over 400 pages. Given below are some very pertinent facts based on the statistics provided by the Sachar Report which look into various parameters like education, employment and income of the Muslim population living in rural and urban areas of the country through elaborate tables. Here are some findings concerning Gujarat :

- In terms of literacy level, Muslims in Gujarat stood at 73.5 percent as compared to the national average of 59.1. While the figure for the urban males was 76, it was 81 for those living in rural areas as compared to the national average of 70 and 62 respectively in similar category. [The Sachar Committee report : Appendix table 4.1, Page No. 287]

 

- Even Muslim women in the urban areas of Gujarat have average literacy rate 5 point higher than the national average whereas their counterparts in rural areas of Gujarat fare even better with a literacy rate of 57 percent as compared to the national average of 43 in similar category. [The Sachar Committee report : Appendix table 4.1 b, Page No. 289]

-Also in Gujarat, a greater percentage of Muslims have attained primary, secondary and higher secondary level education compared to the national average and compared to other states. Against the national average of 60.9% (and 42.2% in UP), Gujarat had 74.9% Muslims at the primary level while the percentage is 45.3 at Secondary level as compared to national average of 40.5% and 29.2% in UP. [The Sachar Committee report : Appendix table 4.6 & 4.7, Page No. 295-296-297-298]

-The average years of secondary schooling for Muslim children between age 7 and 16 years is higher in Gujarat at 4.29 years compare to the national average of 3.26 years. The figures in West Bengal, UP and Bihar are 2.84, 2.60 and 2.07 years respectively. The truth is that the Muslim children in Gujarat are benefiting from equal opportunities to access secondary schooling as other children. [The Sachar Committee report : Appendix table 4.2, Page No. 290-291]

The other aspect is the economic well being of Muslims in Gujarat. Here also, the Sachar Committee dispels the myth.

- In terms of per month per capita income, Muslims in the urban areas of Gujarat earn an average Rs 875 which is more than the national average of Rs 804. In contrast, it is Rs 662 in UP, Rs 748 in West Bengal, Rs 811 in Punjab, Rs 803 in Andhra Pradesh and Rs 837 in Karnataka. [The Sachar Committee report : Appendix table 8.2, Page No. 364]

- The story is similar in rural Gujarat where the per capita monthly income of the Muslims 20-25% more than the Muslims living in the rural areas of most other states. It is on an average Rs 668 as compared to the national average of Rs 553. [The Sachar Committee report : Appendix table 8.3, Page No. 365]

- In terms of people living below poverty line, Gujarat had 54% Muslims living below it in 1987-88 while the figure stood at 34% in 2004-2005 showing a healthy pace of improvement. [The Sachar Committee report : Appendix table 8.5, Page No. 367]

- Even in terms of share of Muslims in state employment, i.e, government jobs, it is 5.4% in Gujarat while it is 2.1% in West Bengal, 3.2% in Delhi and 4.4% in Maharashtra. [The Sachar Committee report : Appendix table 9.4, Page No. 370]

Overall, the total picture dispels the malicious propaganda that injustice is being done to Muslims in the state of Gujarat. The study undertaken by the Sachar Committee on educational condition clearly shows that the Muslims of Gujarat are progressing well in the field of education. They are provided ample opportunities and they are well cared for. The facts on their economic conditions dispel similar myths about their being discriminated against or being denied equal opportunity.

The fact is echoed by none other than the Imam of the Jama masjid in Ahmedabad, Mufti Shabbir Ahmed Siddiqui who reportedly commented sometime back “Muslims have an opportunity to prosper in the peaceful environment that the Modi government has created. Modi has provided an atmosphere which is conducive for those who want to trade peacefully in Gujarat.’’

In setting up the Sachar Committee, Government had its own objectives. But going through the comparative statistics compiled by the Committee, I feel Gujarat should be grateful to Justice Sachar for proving convincingly to the country that under Narendra Bhai Modi’s regime Muslims are far better off than their compatriots in other states.

 

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List of Highest Civilian Honours and International Awards Bestowed on PM Modi
November 14, 2024

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been conferred highest civilian honours by several nations. These recognitions are a reflection of PM Modi’s leadership and vision which has strengthened India’s emergence on the global stage. It also reflects India’s growing ties with countries around the world.

Let us have a look at awards bestowed on PM Modi in the last ten years.

Awards Conferred by Countries:

1. In April 2016, during his visit to Saudi Arabia, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was conferred Saudi Arabia's highest civilian honour- the King Abdulaziz Sash. The Prime Minister was conferred the prestigious award by King Salman bin Abdulaziz.

2. The same year, PM Modi was bestowed upon the State Order of Ghazi Amir Amanullah Khan – the highest civilian honor of Afghanistan.

3. In the year 2018, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid a historic visit to Palestine, he was awarded the Grand Collar of the State of Palestine Award. This is the highest honour of Palestine awarded to foreign dignitaries.

4. In 2019, the Prime Minster was awarded the Order of Zayed Award. This is the highest civilian honour of the United Arab Emirates.

5. Russia conferred Prime Minister Modi with their highest civilian honour - the Order of St. Andrew the Apostle in 2019. The PM received the award during his visit to Moscow in July 2024..

6. Order of the Distinguished Rule of Nishan Izzuddin- the highest honour of the Maldives awarded to foreign dignitaries was presented to PM Modi in 2019.

7. PM Modi received the prestigious King Hamad Order of the Renaissance in 2019. The honour was conferred by Bahrain.

8. Legion of Merit by the US Government, the award of the United States Armed Forces that is given for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements was conferred on PM Modi in 2020.

9. Bhutan honoured PM Modi with the highest civilian decoration, Order of the Druk Gyalpo in December 2021. PM Modi received the award during his visit to Bhutan in March 2024

10. During his visit to Papua New Guinea in 2023, PM Modi was conferred with Ebakl Award by the President Surangel S. Whipps, Jr. of the Republic of Palau

11. PM Narendra Modi has also been conferred the highest honour of Fiji, Companion of the Order of Fiji in recognition of his global leadership. The award was conferred by PM Sitiveni Rabuka of Fiji.

12. Governor General of Papua New Guinea, Sir Bob Dadae conferred PM Modi with Grand Companion of the Order of Logohu. It is the highest honour of Papua New Guinea.

 

13. In June 2023, President Abdel Fattah El-sisi conferred Prime Minister Modi with the highest state honour of Egypt, the 'Order of Nile.'

 

14. On 13th July 2023, PM Modi was conferred with the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour, the highest award in France by President Emmanuel Macron.

 

15. On 25th August 2023, PM Modi was conferred with 'The Grand Cross of the Order of Honour' by President Katerina Sakellaropoulou of Greece.

16. Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Africa in November 2024, Dominica has announced the highest national award, the Dominica Award of Honour.

Apart from the highest civilian honours, PM Modi has also been conferred with several awards by prestigious organisations across the globe.

1. Seoul Peace Prize: It is awarded biennially to those individuals by Seoul Peace Prize Cultural Foundation who have made their mark through contributions to the harmony of mankind, reconciliation between nations and to world peace. Prime Minister Modi was conferred prestigious award in 2018.

2. United Nations Champions of The Earth Award: This is UN’s highest environmental honour. In 2018, the UN recognized PM Modi for his bold environmental leadership on the global stage.

3. First-ever Philip Kotler Presidential Award was given to Prime Minister Modi in 2019. This award is offered annually to the leader of a nation. The citation of the award said that PM Modi was selected for his “outstanding leadership for the nation”.

4. In 2019, PM Modi was conferred the ‘Global Goalkeeper’ Award by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. PM Modi dedicated the award to those Indians who transformed the Swachh Bharat campaign into a “people’s movement” and accorded topmost priority to cleanliness in their day-to-day lives.

5. In 2021, Global Energy and Environment Leadership Award by the Cambridge Energy Research Associates CERA was bestowed on PM Modi. The award recognizes the commitment of leadership towards the future of global energy and environment.