India 2047 – National Conclave
The historic “India 2047” document on empowerment of Muslims was released on 15th August 2016, the 70th Independence Day of the country.
Justice Rajindar Sachar, former Judge, Delhi High Court and Chairman of Prime Minister’s High Level Committee that prepared the report about the condition of Muslims released the historic “India 2047 : Empowering the People” Project Document of Empower India Foundation (EIF) on the occasion of India’s 70th Independence Day.
It was in the forenoon session of the day-long National Conclave entitled ‘Empowering the People – India 2047’ at the Gulmohar Hall of the India Habitat Centre in New Delhi the document was released.
Speaking after releasing the 250 pages document Justice Rajindar Sachar said that Empower India Foundation had done such a stupendous job which the governments of the day could not do in the past 70 years of Independence. “India 2047” project is like taking up the cudgels to empower Muslims and other marginalised communities of India, he added.
He said that a civilised nation was one where the safety of minorities is guaranteed and they get equal opportunity to prosper like other communities. This is a litmus test for good governance of any nation, he commented. He lamented that Equal Opportunity Commission, (EOC), a statutory body to check discrimination of minority communities in jobs and education, as recommended by him in his report has not been established till date despite the UPA-II government’s nod for it.
It may be pointed here that the Justice Sachar Committee, which went into the socio-economic backwardness of Muslims, had recommended setting up of such a panel. The EOC’s mandate was to ensure that no minority community is discriminated against on religious grounds, by redressing complaints. It has to make binding recommendations that people from minority communities find adequate representation in government employment or educational institutions. EOC will also deal with grievances like denial of accommodation or buying rights to minorities in housing societies.
The opening session was presided over by Maulana Mohammad Wali Rahmani, general secretary of All India Muslim Personal Law Board. The keynote address was delivered by Prof. Amitabh Kundu, Chairman of post-Sachar Evaluation Committee.
Maulana Mohammad Wali Rahmani in his presidential address described the India 2047 Document as a mission which would enable Muslims and other marginalised people to prosper and walk shoulder to shoulder with other communities by getting empowered by their own efforts. “Aaj Ka function Aik Naee Subah Ka Aaghaaz Hai” (Today’s function is the beginning of a new dawn), Moulana Wali Rahmani remarked. He said if Muslims changed their mindset then they could tread on the path of success by their own efforts without looking towards the government agencies or others.
Maulana Wali Rahmani said that in the light of Justice Sachar Committee report many big announcements were made by the Central government but except scholarship schemes none benefitted Muslims directly. The Sachar panel’s report had brought to the fore the woeful condition of Muslims since independence, and they had been pushed back to be leading a life worse than the Dalits.