What is the intention of the Assam government behind giving certificates to minorities? intention of the Assam government behind giving certificates to minorities

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-DW News

New Delhi, 30 May.
Assam will be the first state in the country to give certificates to minorities. The Assam government in its cabinet meeting on Sunday decided to issue certificates to six religious minorities of the state. Giving information about this, Health and Family Welfare Minister Keshab Mahanta said, “The cabinet has decided to issue minority certificates to people belonging to Muslim, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain and Parsi communities.” Its process is being finalized. He said that this is the first time to issue such a certificate. This will help in identification.

government benefits to minorities

The Health Minister explains, “We have many schemes for the minorities. There is also a separate department for the minorities. But there is no concrete way to identify the minorities. Their identification is necessary to reach the benefits of government schemes to such sections of the people.” It was the Assam Minorities Development Board who had requested to issue such certificates.”

Appreciating the government’s decision, the Chairman of the Minorities Development Board, Habib Mohammad Choudhary has said that it will help the minorities of Assam to get the benefits of government schemes. He said that we had been demanding such a certificate for a long time.

Chaudhary also says that in the matter of examination or scholarship, without it there is a lot of problem. Due to not being able to prove their identity, students are not able to get the benefit of various welfare schemes. He says that many times the board has been issuing such certificates. But often they are not accepted.

How many minorities are there in Assam

According to the 2011 census, Hindus constitute 61.47 percent of the total population of Assam (3.09 crore). After that, Muslims are second with a population of 34.22 percent. Christians at number three make up 3.74 per cent, while Buddhists, Sikhs and Jains make up less than one per cent of the population.

Opposition political parties and minority organizations say that it is clear like a mirror in the Constitution which sections will get minority status in the country. There may be some political agenda behind this decision of the ruling BJP in the state.

State Congress President Bhupen Bora says, “BJP is already following the agenda of division. The latest decision will further strengthen its agenda. This will increase the rift between various minority sections and will give success to BJP’s plan to divide the society.” “

‘Doubt the intention of the government’

All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) secretary Mohd. Aminul Islam says, “There is no need to give any separate identity or certificate to the minority sections. “

All Assam Minority Students’ Union (AMSU) advisor A. Ahmed says, “I don’t know why such a decision was suddenly needed. Perhaps the government wants to classify different religious minorities separately. The real purpose of this decision will be known only later.”

However, Mahant, the Health Minister, says that hundreds of students from minority sections were denied admission or jobs in educational institutions outside the state. The reason for this was that they did not have any evidence to prove their minority status. This decision has nothing to do with the interpretation of minorities in the Constitution. He said that it should not be considered a political agenda.

People or organizations belonging to other religious minority sections of the state have refused to comment openly on this decision of the government. An official of a Parsi organization, on the condition of anonymity, says, “We are already victims of many kinds of discrimination in the state. Now maybe the latest decision will bring some relief. I don’t know why the government has taken such a decision?”

Source: DW