All political parties in the country love them! And when it's election time, Muslims are wooed fervently by the Congress, NCP, AIMIM and even the Shiv Sena and the BJP, especially if it's a multi-cornered contest like it was in the assembly elections that concluded on Oct 15. Small margins can make or break fortunes, politicians know. But have Muslims in the country benefited from the 'love' being constantly showered on them by the poll-time lovers? The answer is a big no, as the dismal developmental and social statistics on Muslims in Maharashtra indicate.
Percentage of Muslims in state?
They comprise 10.6% of the state's population and are the second largest religious group.
What do statistics reveal?
Education: Only 2.2% of Maharashtra's Muslims have completed graduation: the percentage of women graduates is 1.4%. According to the report, though Muslims (in Maharashtra) have higher literacy rates (78.12% according to 2001 census) when compared to others, poverty, lack of financial support, inadequate educational and infrastructure facilities in Muslim dominated areas, have led to educational backwardness.
Poverty: More than half (59.4%) of Muslims live below poverty line in urban areas; in hinterlands, the figure is higher at 59.8%.
Dwelling: 58% of them in urban areas live in slums. In urban pockets, room density for Muslims is 4.6 persons per room, while it is 3.7 in rural areas.
Income deprivation among Muslims is also huge with 45% households living below per capita income of Rs 500.
Employment: "Lack of formal employment opportunities, biases in the job market and lower educational attainments have kept Muslims in the vicious circle of poverty and penury," and Muslims are being pushed to urban areas for livelihood where they have to work either as informal workers or look for self-employment. "Muslims in urban centres live at subsistence level and urbanization of Muslims can be called subsistence urbanization," says the report.
Govt service: In police force there are only 4.4% Muslims. And there are no Muslim IAS officers in Maharashtra cadre.
Who conducted the study?
The chief minister's study group headed by former IAS officer Mehmood-ur-Rehman.
The report 'Socio-economic and educational backwardness of Muslims in Maharashtra,' which this group submitted, underlines how decades of apathy and neglect have taken their toll on the community. It also outlines the need for reforms in antiquated Muslim personal laws which work against the interests of women in the community.
Do they face discrimination?
They do. "The community experiences various subtle and overt discrimination. According to the report: 1) Muslims are denied access to public facilities and services on flimsy grounds. 2) Muslim children find it difficult to get admission in schools and other educational institutions. 3) They find it difficult to find jobs in organized sector. 4) Their livelihood options are curtailed because of lack of access to credit and banking. 5) Muslims find it difficult to buy or rent houses/apartments in non-Muslim areas. Anti Discrimination Acts can be especially beneficial in this context, the report says.
Population growth
The growth of Muslim population has been higher than most other sections with fertility rate being one child higher than Hindus. "The growth rate of Muslim population has been relatively higher in almost all states including Maharashtra. Muslim growth rate since 1961 has been above the average growth rate in Maharashtra," the report says adding that a declining trend in fertility had however begun.
Any reforms suggested?
Yes. "Govt should encourage reforms especially with regard to gender equality. Arbitrary talaq should be prohibited and alimony to divorced women should be made compulsory," the report says.
"It is argued that socio-economic exclusions experienced by the community are reinforced for Muslim women because of the existing realities of gender subordination in India. Muslim women suffer double disadvantages, as women and as members of a minority religious group," the report notes, adding that Muslim women form negligible workforce in the organized sector as well as in the political process.
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