'Recognize us as indigenous Muslims'

Suggestions of panels to government

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that the State Government now got a 'clear definition and picture' regarding the indigenous Muslims of Assam. The Chief Minister said that this would help the State Government do all necessary to develop the indigenous Muslims.

The Chief Minister said this today after receiving the reports of the seven fact-finding committees that had a detailed study on the indigenous Assamese Muslims of the state.

Earlier, the State Government formed seven sub-committees for population, health, cultural identity, education, financial inclusion, skill development and women empowerment. All the seven sub-committees submitted their respective report today.

The Chief Minister said, "For the first time, the indigenous Muslims of the state brainstormed amongst them and came out with suggestions and recommendations to the government for their development. Now, we know what the government should do to uplift them. The target group is very much clear before us now.

"We will ask the departments concerned to take measures to implement the suggestions and recommendations that are clear enough. We will discuss recommendations lacking clarity with the sub-committees further.

"We will implement the recommendations in three phases – short term, medium-term and long term. The government is sincere enough to implement the recommendations."

The Chief Minister appealed to the sub-committees to make their populace at various strata aware of their recommendations to let them know what the government wants to do for them.

Some of the recommendations of the sub-committees are –

(i) The Assam Government, through a notification, may recognize the Assamese Muslims as an indigenous Assamese-speaking community of Assam.

(ii) The five sub-groups of Assamese Muslims – Syed, Goriya, Moriya, Deshi and Julha – should be mentioned and recognized in the government notification.

(iii) The government may set up a separate directorate for the Assamese Muslims. The Directorate may provide the necessary documentation to the people of the Assamese Muslim community to reflect their distinct identities. It may be in the form of an identity card or a certificate.

(iv) The Assam Government may undertake a census to identify and document the Assamese Muslim community.

(v) The government may enact a provision similar to Article 333 of the Indian Constitution to provide a representation of the Assamese Muslims in Parliament and Assam Legislative Assembly.

(vi) The Assam Government may provide financial grants to preserve and promote the Azaan Pir Dargah at Saraguri Chapori in Sivasagar as a historical and tourist site.

(vii) To make women free to discard social subjugation in a matter of choice of individual dress, especially in public places. There must not be coercion to wear a niqab, burqa or hijab.

(viii) Implementation of uniform civil code.

(ix) The government may preserve and promote Zikir and Jari, besides standardizing Zikir tune.

(x) Preventing underage marriage through 'incentivization' and 'dis-incentivization'.

(xi) Providing sterilization services and services for implanting inter-uterine cervical devices in hospitals that serve the indigenous Muslim community.

(xii) Enforcement of a population policy.

(xiii) Special focus on women's education through the existing formal system. To persuade those families whose women continue to be outside the education system into sending the girls to schools and colleges by incentivizing the families/girls, etc.

Also Read:   Comprehensive development and empowerment of indigenous Muslims

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