Serious Under-Representation of Minorities in Govt. Services in Delhi: Minority Commission’s Annual Report

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Mumtaz Alam and Saiyed Danish | India Tomorrow
New Delhi, Dec 16: Constitutionally recognized religious minorities – Muslim, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain and Parsi – constitute around 20% of population in Delhi, but they are facing “serious under-representation in government services”, reveals the annual report 2017-18 of the Delhi Minorities Commission. “Their representation in Government services is below 5% in most services,” says the 152-page report released by panel’s head Dr. Zafarul Islam Khan here on Friday. Among them, the share of Muslims is worse given their share (12.86%) in population.

Both in big departments and small ones, the under-representation of religious minorities is “pathetic”. For example, the Delhi Police has 75,681 personnel against the sanctioned posts of 88,823 in the year 2017-18. Only 2,885 personnel were from the minorities, that is (3.81%) of the present strength of the Delhi Police.

The report reveals that there has not been much change in the conditions of Minorities including Muslims despite much-touted Prime Minister’s 15-point Program and Sachar Report. Their conditions remain pathetic irrespective of which party is in power in Delhi. Since February 2015, the Aam Aadmi Party is in absolute power in Delhi and for 15 years before 2015, Congress was in power.

After Delhi Police, the biggest employer is Delhi Metro with 12,118 personnel. Among them, there are 475 (3.92%) employees from religious minorities.

Representation of Minorities in Govt. Services in Delhi

2015-16
2016-17
2017-18
Departments
Employees
Minorities
Employees
Minorities
Employees
Minorities
Delhi Police
77,397
2,993
77,427
3,035
75,681
2,885 (3.81%)
Delhi Metro
8,524
282
8,524
283
12,118
475 (3.92%)
Delhi Development Authority (DDA)
6,031
295
Correct Figures Unavailable
Correct Figures Unavailable
4,028
223 (5.53%)
Delhi Fire
1,843
21
2,080
26
2,011
26 (1.29%)
Delhi Tourism & Transportation
741
32
716
43
649
28 (4.31%)

“Serious under-representation of minorities in Govt. and PSUs is a matter of grave concern. Official information culled from various government departments and PSUs shows that the representation of minorities in government departments and PSUs continues to be pathetic. Minorities in the NCT of Delhi represent close to 20 percent of the population but their representation in Government services is below 5 percent in most services,” says Dr. Zafarul Islam Khan in the report.

Muslim Representation in Govt. Services in Delhi
As per Census 2011, the population of religious minorities in Delhi was 18.32%. Muslims alone were 12.86%.

Out of the 15 government departments mentioned in the Delhi Minorities Commission’s Annual Report 2017-18, there are some in which the representation of Muslims remains poorest, especially when the current year data is compared with the annual report of 2016-17.

In Delhi Police department, out of the 88,823 sanctioned posts, there are 75,681 employees and the number of Muslim employees succumbs at a poor tally of 1269 (1.69%) only. This figure is lower than the 2016-17 figures of Muslim employees in Delhi Police department which was 1,388 out of 77,427 employees.

Delhi Police department is a sensitive establishment as it plays important role in the event of a communal flare-up. Although the report this year claims that no major incidence of communal violence has taken place in the past year, the complicity of police personnel in abetting communal violence has been confirmed in various enquiry reports and hence many NGOs have been demanding reforms in Indian police system and a vital part of that demand is that more and more members of minority community should be included in the police force.

Representation of Muslims in Govt. Services in Delhi

2015-16
2016-17
2017-18
Departments
Employees
Muslims
Employees
Muslims
Employees
Muslims
Delhi Police
77,397

Separate Figures For Muslims Not Available
77,427
1,388
75,681
1,269 (1.67%)
Delhi Metro
8,524
8,524
184
12,118
351 (2.89%)
Delhi Development Authority (DDA)
6,031
Correct Figures Unavailable
Correct Figures Unavailable
4,028
113 (2.8%)
Delhi Fire
1,843
2,080
9
2,011
9 (0.44%)
Delhi Tourism & Transportation
741
716
11
649
9 (1.38%)

North Delhi Municipal Corporation has a total of 649 sanctioned posts with 399 employees filling the vacancy. Here the number of Muslims employees is 9 which is 2.25% representation.

In the Department of the Welfare of SC/ST/OBC and Minorities, out of 89 posts and 61 employees, there is one Muslim employee which is 1.124% of Muslim representation.

In Finance (Accounts) Department, there are 695 employees as against 973 posts sanctioned. This department has only 4 Muslims working for them. This number is lowest of all minorities in the department as the number of Christian and Sikh employees are more than Muslims i.e. 14 and 9 respectively.

Public Grievance Commission has no Muslim staffer. It has 23 employees out of 35 sanctioned posts. There only 1 Sikh employee in the name of minority representation.

Delhi Metro Rail Corporation has only 351 Muslim employees out of 12118 filled posts. It is the only department in which all the 12118 sanctioned posts have been filled.

Delhi Fire Service has only 9 Muslims out of 2011 employees with a percentage of 0.447%, same strength as in the report of 2016-17.

Directorate General of Home Guards has employed only 2 Muslims (1.83%) out of the total number of 109 employees. Even in this department the number of Muslim employees remains the same as in 2016-17.

Directorate of Training (UTCS) has employed only 3 Muslims (7.69%) out of the sanctioned posts of 64 filled by 39 employees. The tally is just one post up from the last report.

Delhi Development Authority has filled only 4028 posts out of the sanctioned 11639 posts. Muslim employees stand at 113 which is a feeble and insufficient 2.8%.

Delhi Minorities Commission itself is one of the worst hit departments when it comes to Muslims’ representation. According to the current report, out of 11 employees present there is 1 Muslim with the representation percentage of 9.09% which ironically the highest in any of the fifteen departments.

Apart from this, there are a number of departments and Public Sector Units (PSUs) which did not even reply ‘despite repeated reminders’ by the commission. They are Directorate of Audit, Department of Food and Safety, Revenue Department, South Delhi Municipal Corporation, East Delhi Municipal Corporation, New Delhi Municipal Corporation, Delhi Women Commission and Commission for Other Backward Classes.
2015-2016

2016-2017

2017-2018

What is the way out?
The minority commission feels that there have been few affirmative actions from the government to increase the representation of minorities.

“There is no marked improvement despite many promises and schemes in the wake of Prime Minister’s 15-point Programme, Sachar Report of 2006 and Justice Misra Commission Report,” says the commission.

Both Sachar and Misra panels had recommended specific quota for Muslims in government job and education.

In his report, Dr. Khan stresses on “pro-active approach” and “clear cut and measurable steps” to change the situation.

“A pro-active approach is needed to give minorities their due in government services and facilities commensurate with their percentage in the population. Clear cut and measurable steps must be taken to ensure better representation of minorities commensurate to their ratio in the state population,” suggested Dr. Khan in the report.

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