India 2047India 2047National Conclave

15TH AUGUST 2016, INDIA HABITAT CENTRE, NEW DELHI

EMPOWER INDIA FOUNDATION

Empowering the People

India 2047 Document on

Empowerment of Muslims Released on Independence Day

Justice Rajindar Sachar, former Judge of Delhi High Court and the Chairman of Prime Minister’s High Level Committee constituted to prepare a comprehensive report on the social, economic and educational status of Indian Muslims, released the historic “India 2047: Empowering the People” Project Document on the 70th Independence Day of the nation 2016, at National Conclave conducted by Empower India Foundation (EIF) at the Gulmohar Hall of the India Habitat Centre, New Delhi.

Speaking after releasing the about 250 pages document Justice Rajindar Sachar said that the Empower India Foundation had done such a stupendous job which the governments of the nation could not do in the past 70 years. “A civilised nation is one where the minorities are guaranteed equal opportunity and they get it to prosper like other communities. This is a litmus test for good governance of any nation” he said. “India 2047 project is like taking up the cudgels to empower Muslims and other marginalised communities of India”, he added. He commented that the Equal Opportunity Commission, (EOC), a statutory body to check discrimination against the minority communities in jobs and education, as recommended by him in his report had not been established till date despite the UPA-II government’s nod for it.

Justice Rajindar Sachar

The day-long National Conclave that was designed as a get-together of select community leaders and activists from different states commenced with recitation of verses from the Holy Qur’an with its English translation by AMU student Jameel Husain. It was an occasion to share views and experiences in bringing inclusive growth by empowering the marginalised people, especially the Muslims and other backward communities in India.

E. M. Abdul Rahiman, Chairman EIF welcomed the gathering. He said that India was developing and the wealth of this nation was growing. However, growth and development at the cost of social justice was a real challenge. The gap between the privileged and marginalised sections is also growing. Along with the Tribals and Dalits, the Muslims too were the victims of this unethical and unbalanced growth. “Our dream is of a strong nation. Strength of the people is the real strength of the nation. Our vision is of an all inclusive just India, as the nation will remain handicapped till all sections are equally empowered. The Project Document ‘India 2047: Empowering the People’ is a community centred project, but not a communal project and is also a national project,” he continued.

Abdul Rahiman pointed out that the alliance

building with other classes and communities is a pre-requisite for the empowerment of a particular community in a plural society like India. Responsibility lied at the top and bottom levels. At the top it was the duties of the governments of the day while at the bottom it’s of the concerned communities. “Let us be the Agents of Change by volunteering, networking, micro-planning, execution, grass-root level system building etc.,” he exhorted.

Maulana Mohammad Wali Rahmani, General Secretary, All India Muslim Personal Law Board presided over the opening session. Prof. Amitabh Kundu, Chairman, Post Sachar Evaluation Committee delivered the keynote address.

Prof. M. Aslam, Vice Chancellor, IGNOU; Prof. P.K. Abdul Azis, former Vice Chancellor, AMU; E. Abubacker, Chairman, Rehab India Foundation; Kamal Faruqui, former Chairman, Minorities Commission; Adv. Sharfuddin Ahmed, Vice President, Social Democratic Party of India; Navaid Hamid, President, All India Muslim Majlis-e-Mushawarat; Prof. S. Sumayaa Principal, TBAK College for Women, Tamil Nadu; and Prof. Nishath Khalida Parveen, Principal, Abbas Khan College, Bangalore also spoke on the occasion.

E. M. Abdul Rahiman

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In his presidential address, Maulana Muhammed Wali Rahmani described the 2047 Document as a mission that would enable Muslims and other marginalised p eople to prosper and walk shoulder to shoulder, by getting empowered with their own efforts. “Aaj Ka function Ek Naee Subah Ka Aaghaaz Hai (Today’s function is the beginning of a new dawn)”, he remarked. He said that if the Muslims changed their mindset then they would be able to tread on the path to success by their own efforts without looking towards the government agencies or others. Central government had announced a lot of things following the Justice Sachar Committee Report, but except the scholarship schemes, none had been directly beneficial to the Muslims. The Sachar Panel report had brought to the fore the woeful condition of the Muslims since independence, and they had been pushed back to lead a life worse than the Dalits, he said.

The Project Activities Report was presented by Mohammad Raphy, Executive Secretary of EIF. He gave a short description of the evolution of the project that started with a background paper in November 2013. It was followed by brainstorming sessions, six national seminars,

more than 50 city get-together programmes across India, consultation with eminent experts in social development, etc. Eleven Focus Areas, viz. Governance, Economy, Education, Health, Media, Women, Children & Youth, Civil Rights, Broad based Alliance, Social Reformation and Culture & Heritage were identified in the brainstorming sessions. Three Support Areas, Human Resource Department, Finance & Marketing and Organization were also identified for the successful implementation of the project. Thereafter, three years of hectic activities - seminars, discussions, get-together programs, etc., across the country continued and it culminated in the release of the final draft of the Project Report.

Project Document Editor Prof. P. Koya introducing the document said that EIF’s “India 2047” project carried a vision, mission, focus areas, objectives and initiatives. It carried dreams and hopes destitute. It was not merely a vision document but a vision-to-action project. The role of EIF was to provide conceptual,

intellectual and motivational support, create awareness and reach out to the local teams, promote pilot projects, and identify partnerships and implementation agencies.

India 2047India 2047National Conclave

Moulana Muhammad Wali Rahmani

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During his keynote address, Prof. Amitabh Kundu with the support of statistics, explained with the present state of Muslims, and where they stand today vis-à-vis Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes. He said that the sense of insecurity prevailing in Muslims would have to be addressed on priority basis as in the case of SCs & STs, if the vision of Inclusive India and its suggested economic growth had to be achieved.

Prof. M. Aslam, VC of IGNOU, opined that we all were concerned about the welfare of the marginalised sections of the society, “but we keep on shouting about our pathetic state of affairs and do nothing ourselves at the ground level. The time has come now to be harshly frank about ourselves and our shortcomings

and initiate an action plan as envisioned by EIF in its “India 2047: Empowering the People” project.

The professor appreciated EIF for its approach which is inscribed on the back page of the “India 2047: Empowering the People” document. It says: “Let’s not be pessimists who see only difficulties in opportunities; let’s be optimists who can turn every difficulty into an opportunity. Stop lamenting the past; start striving for the future”. Elaborating the meaning of empowerment, he said that it should take the marginalised communities to such a level wherein they will be able to take decisions and solve their problems on their own and improve their lot.

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“We hope that the idea of India will be realised with our traditional values like the Constitutional guarantees of equal opportunity to one and all,” said Prof. P.K. Abdul Azis, former VC of AMU terming the project document as a comprehensive report. He said that we had never seen such a document ever prepared by Muslims for the community and other marginalised people. He hoped that it would be frame work of action plan. He said that Justice Sachar Committee Report was an eye opener, but the post-Sachar report period had revealed that no changes had been made in the conditions of Muslims.

Navaid Hamid, President AIMMM, lauded EIF for producing a well structured and analytical “India 2047: Empowering the People” document. He said that EIF had started the process of over-turning the well ensconced self-centred Muslim leadership which had harmed the community to a great extent. There were two types of political outfits viz. PPP (Permanent Paidal Party) and PRP (Permanent Ruling Party) among Muslims wherein the latter always ruled the roost to benefit themselves at the cost of the Muslim community, he said.

“The average annual educational expenditure per student by the government stands low for Muslims and almost half when compared to other communities,” quoted Prof. S. Suma yaa, Principal of TBAK College for Women, Tamil Nadu. She described the release of “India 2047: Empowering the People” project document as the awakening moment for the Muslim community at large.

As such, to make Muslims self-reliant, Prof. Sumayaa suggested that Masjids which were free from all activities after the Fajr prayer till the call for Zohar prayer in the afternoon should be utilised as Information and Guidance centres. It should be used for making the community aware of the opportunities and guide them accordingly depending upon their capabilities and aptitudes.

E. Abubacker, Chairman of Rehab India Foundation, said that India could not claim to be a fully developed country until and unless all the communities here progress equally. Commissions and committee reports are like repeatedly getting prescriptions for a known ailment. They never receive the medicine they need. Mere prescriptions will not cure any disease.

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Adv. Sharafuddin Ahmed, vice president SDPI, while hailing “India 2047” document appealed EIF to unravel the 2nd part of Justice Sachar Committee Reportrtrt which was on relinquishing Muslim Waqf properties worth crores of rupees. It had been put under the carpet and no one talked about it. So, EIF should take it up and do the needful, he urged.

“I would like to congratulate the team of Empower India Foundation as they are doing a great job with a national c overage,” lauded Kamal Farooqui, former Chairman, Minorities Commission. He termed the India 2047 project as the best visionary plan from the Muslim community.

Prof. Nishath Khalida Parveen, Principal of Abbas Khan College, Bangalore underlined the

importance of girl’s education as a prerequisite for total empowerment of the community.

Anis Ahmed, General Secretary, EIF proposed a vote of thanks. Muhammed Rasheed, EXCOM member of EIF compere d the session. 100 odd invited delegates from 15 states participated in the deliberations of the day-long conclave.

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Empower India Foundation team member Nainar sultan gave a power point presentation on the topic of “Challenges and opportunities in community empowerment” at the seminar.

Nainar sultan

Muhammad Arif Ahmad

General convener of the programme Muhammad Arif Ahmad delivered vote of thanks

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SEMINAR SESSIONOPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES IN COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT

Dr. Zafrul Islam Khan, Editor of Milli Gazette was the moderator of the panel discussion held later. Dr. Khan in his p residential remarks pointed out the example of Palestinian people who are much ahead of Israelis in the field of education. This has happened after the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories in 1948. Then Palestinians decided to give top priority to education in their scheme of things to beat their rivals and maintain an upper hand.

Dr. Fakhruddin Mohammad, Honorary Secretary MESCO, Hyderabad; Prof. Shakeel Samdani of AMU, and Abdul Wahid Sait, National Secretary, Popular Front took part in the discussion.

Dr. Fakhruddin emphasized the importance of education which plays a stellar role in shaping the careers of children if they are imparted with quality education. He cited the example of Telangana government which under the Telangana Minorities Residential Educational Institutions Society (TMREIS), has set the ball rolling in empowering the minorities by deciding to establish about 150 minorities residential

Dr. Zafrul Islam

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The second session was a seminar on the theme ‘Opportunities and Challenges in Community Empowerment’. Dr. Mohammad Minarul Shaikh, Liaison Officer, EIF welcomed the gathering.

Dr. Mohammad Manzoor Alam, Chairman, Institute of Objective Studies, New Delhi delivered the keynote address. He presented a statistical analysis of some most vital areas of deprivation which seek systematic intervention by the Muslim community.

Dr. Lubna Sarwath, an Economist from Hyderabad, and Nainar Sultan of EIF made presentations on “Focus areas and initiatives: National and regional priorities by 2020” and “Opportunities and challenges” respectively. Dr. Lubna highlighted a number of priority initiatives to be taken up in the present phase of the project. Mr. Sultan while emphasising the

need for a paradigm shift in the mindset of the affected communities detailed the essential ingredients of an effective implementation system.

Pilot projects undertaken by EIF in partnership with other groups were announced by E. M. Abdul Rahiman. He said that the implementation of projects had been planned to be carried out in six phases of 5 years each. A model of the upcoming interventions and as a test phase, seven initiatives had been identified in different states.

The seven Pilot Projects are:

• Master Trainers Development Programme – Bangalore and New Delhi

• Literacy Program (Full literacy in 25 villages) – Bihar

• Poverty Eradication Drive (Women’s Self Help Group Cluster) – Uttar Pradesh

• Finishing School – Rajasthan

• D-Voter Issue: Legal Support System – Assam

• Drinking Water Supply Project – West Bengal

• Sanitation Scheme (Providing toilets) – Tamil Nadu

Announcement of an Advisory Board for Empower India Foundation to guide and oversee the project activities was also made on the occasion. Maulana Muhammad Wali Rahmani would be the Board Chairman, said E M Abdul Rahiman while announcing the formation of the Board.

Mohammad Arif Ahmed, General Convener of the event proposed a vote of thanks. Anis Ahmed, General Secretary, Empower India Foundation, monitored the session.

schools all over the state with at least one such school in each district. The society is to provide high quality education to talented children belonging to minority communities, through pace setting residential schools. TMREIS will be set up as an autonomous organization to establish and manage these residential schools. This laudable scheme could be replicated in other states also, he added.

“Why South Indian Muslims are progressing in every walk of life, let it be educational, economical or social arena as compared to their counterparts in the North who are lagging behind in every field,” was the point pondered by Prof. Shakeel Samdani. He said that the Muslims from the South followed the directives of the Holy Quran in letter and spirit to some extent while in the North the letter was there but the spirit was missing. He suggested that the Muslims should offer at least 2-3 hours from their precious free time every week for social, community and Islamic works targeting the co-religionists belonging to the have-nots category. He termed this effort led, “Waqt Ki Zakat”.

Mr Abdul Wahid Sait emphasised the importance of connecting the plan to grassroots level implementation. “We need to identify experienced NGOs and v olunteers working in the ground,” he said.

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India 2047India 2047National Conclave

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