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India is a secular country where the majority of the population preaches Hinduism, and it is critical to ensure that the interests of minority communities are protected. The National Minorities Commission was established for a specific reason. We’ll look at the NCM’s history, the composition of NCM, significant facts, and functions. The Union Government of India established the National Commission for Minorities (NCM) on May 17, 1993, under the National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992, to safeguard and protect the interests of minorities.
The National Commission for Minorities was established in New Delhi, and state governments established State Minorities Commissions in their respective state capitals. In the beginning, the National Commission for Minorities (NCM) looked after the welfare of Buddhists, Christians, Muslims, Sikhs, and Zoroastrians (Parsis), as those religions were identified as minority communities by the Union Government. Later, in January 2014, Jains were also enlisted into the Commission.
The aggrieved minority members can seek remedy with the State Minorities Commissions in their respective states. They can submit their complaints to the National Commission for Minorities, but only if all other avenues of recourse have been attempted.
What is the National Commission for Minorities Act?
The composition of the NCM was done to provide social justice to all minority communities in the country. It was established as a medium of appeal to defend the interests of various minorities.
National Commission for Minorities – Important Facts
- Present Chairperson – Shri Iqbal Singh Lalpura.
- Headquarters – New Delhi.
- Jurisdiction – Comes under the Ministry of Minority Affairs, Government of India.
- According to the 2011 census, the six minority groups account for roughly 19.30 % of India’s overall population.
- Muslim is the largest of the six minority communities, accounting for 14.2% of the population, with 17.22 crore citizens living in India.
The following are the population figures for the remaining communities:
- Christians make up 2.3% of the population.
- Sikhs make up about 1.7% of the population.
- Buddhists make up about 0.7% of the population.
- Jains make up 0.4% of the population.
- Parsis have a community of around 57000 people. (Not included in the census 2011)
The Composition of the NCM
According to the National Commission on Minorities Act, the Commission shall be composed of:
- A Chairperson
- A Vice-Chairperson
- Five members
Note: The Central Government will select five members from among people of significance, talent, and integrity, with five of them, including the Chairperson, coming from minority communities. Each member has a three-year term.
The Functions of the NCM
- The Commission shall carry out the following functions:
- Investigate complaints against minority rights and protections and bring them to the attention of the authorities.
- Examine the effectiveness of the constitutional guarantees and laws established by Parliament and state legislatures.
- Analyse the progress of minorities in the country.
- Conduct investigations, research, and analysis on minorities’ socioeconomic and educational growth.
- Provide periodic or special reports on any topic relating to minorities, including the difficulties they face.
- Conduct research into problems originating from any prejudice against minorities and make recommendations for solutions.
- While performing any of these responsibilities, the Commission has all of the authority of a civil court trying a case, particularly in the following areas:
- Appointing commissions to examine witnesses and documents.
- Receiving affidavit evidence.
- Obtaining a copy of any public record from any court or office.
- Summoning and compelling the attendance of any individual from any region of India and questioning him under oath.
- Necessitating any document to be discovered and produced.
- Anything else that could be required.
Conclusion
The rich culture and diversity are what make India great. For any secular nation to achieve greatness, the rights of minorities must not be subordinated to the rights of the majority.
Minorities can be protected through proper enforcement of minority-related laws, keeping the democratic principle alive while balancing it with personal liberty. Minorities, whether linguistic or religious, can use the various constitutional and legislative provisions available to them to protect their rights effectively.
