16-Dec-2022: Minority Rights Day celebrated at the National Commission for Minorities

Minority Rights Day which is observed on December 18th every year was celebrated at the National Commission for Minorities on December 16, 2022. The United Nations on December 18, 1992 adopted and broadcast the Statement on the individual's Rights belonging to Religious or Linguistic National or Ethnic Minorities. Minority Rights Day upholds the right to freedom and equal opportunities for the minorities in India and creates awareness about their rights.

The Minister of State for Ministry of Minority Affairs, Shri John Barla graced the function as the Chief Guest which was presided over by Shri Iqbal Singh Lalpura, Chairman, National Commission for Minorities, Chairman, National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions, Justice NK Jain also graced the occasion as the Guest of Honour.  Vice-Chairman of National Commission for Minorities, Shri Kersi Kaikhushroo Deboo, Dhanyakumar Jinnapa Gunde Jain Member, Syed Shahezadi Muslim Member, Rinchen Lhamo Buddhist Member, and senior officials of NCM were  present on the occasion.

The National Commission for Minorities invited various intellectuals from the six minority communities namely - Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Buddhists, Jain and Zoroastrians. Representing their community, they shared the difficulties faced by the minorities of India, expectations of the minorities from the State, recommendations for the improvements in the schemes and programmes for the minorities. An interfaith delegation also attended the function.

In his remarks the Minister of State for Ministry of Minority Affairs, Shri John Barla emphasised on the need to generate awareness about the schemes and programmes of the minorities in the areas of education and employment. He said, "It is necessary to spread knowledge and generate awareness about the Government schemes for the minority communities. Religious leaders of the communities should be roped in for this purpose as they have access to a massive audience." He also emphasized on continuous dialogue between different communities.

The Vice-Chairman of National Commission for Minorities, Shri Kersi Kaikhushroo Deboo, highlighted the efforts of the Commission. Members also spoke of the need to work tirelessly for the welfare of the minorities.

The representatives of the Minority communities also spoke on the occasion. While appreciating the initiatives taken by the Commission, they also pointed out some issues pertaining to their communities and requested the Commission to look into them.

The Chairman Shri Iqbal Singh Lalpura delivered the vote of thanks. He said "In 1978, India envisaged the idea of setting up a National Commission for Minorities much before the United Nations, where it all started in 1992.” He added, “We can work towards the development of minorities by including religious leaders, educationalists and social workers for generating awareness among the members of minority communities.”  Chairman also discussed other minority issues like Anand Marriage Act and Prime Minister's 15 Point Programme. He also assured that NCM will be meeting the Religious Leaders at their own places on a regular basis and have detailed deliberations. NCM also regularly celebrates religious festivals of all the religions of India.

On this occasion, the Commission reiterated its mandate of working towards the maintenance of peace and communal harmony in the society irrespective of the religious, linguistic and other differences and maintaining the dignity of the minority communities in India by safeguarding their rights.

6-Dec-2022: Meeting organized by National Commission for Minorities with the Sikh Intelligentsia regarding Veer Bal Diwas

The National Commission for Minorities held a meeting with the Sikh Intelligentsia today  for inviting suggestion/advice for commemoration of the Veer Bal Diwas. The meeting was presided over by the Chairman of National Commission for Minorities, Shri Iqbal Singh Lalpura. Smt Rinchen Lhamo,  Member, National Commission for Minorities and senior officials of NCM were also present in the meeting.

Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi has announced that 26 December will be observed as Veer Bal Diwas to mark the martyrdom of Sahibzada Zorawar Singh Ji (7 years old) and Sahibzada Fateh Singh Ji (5 years old), who were martyred in Sarhand by prisoning them alive by bricking them in the walls on 26th December, 1704. Thereafter, the Government of India has decided to commemorate December 26 as Veer Bal Diwas. In order to make this event more meaningful, the Commission invited eminent personalities and intellectuals from Sikh community to provide their suggestions.

 Chairman of National Commission for Minorities, Shri Iqbal Singh Lalpura hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s decision to mark December 26 as Veer Bal Diwas. Expressing gratitude towards the Prime Minister ,Chairman, NCM said, “We appreciate Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi for recognizing supreme-sacrifice of the four Sahibzadas of Guru Gobind Singh ji by marking December 26th  as Veer Bal Diwas.”

He further added that, “It has been more than 318 years since the martyrdom of Sahibzadas, however, we are yet to name any institution after them as a tribute to their sacrifice. We need to make an effort in this direction. It is necessary to institute a National Bravery Award in the name of Sahibzadas. The story of the Sahibzadas needs to be disseminated far and wide within India and across the world.”

The National Commission for Minorities received various suggestions for a meaningful observance of the ‘Veer Bal Diwas’ on 26 December, 2022. Most of the suggestions were focussed on generating awareness about the sacrifices of the Sahibzadas across the country, making use of literature and culture for the same, including the story of Sahibzadas in the school syllabus and promoting it through comics and short films among the students in all the languages and States of India. The National Commission for Minorities will take up these suggestions with the PMO and the Ministry of Culture for making commemoration of the Veer Bal Diwas, a grand success.

22-Nov-2022: National Commission for Minorities holds meeting with delegation from New Zealand

Shri Iqbal Singh Lalpura, Chairman, National Commission for Minorities held a meeting with a delegation from New Zealand today.  Those who  participated in the meeting included  Mr. Phil Goff,  Mr. Mathew Robson, Mr. Daljit Singh, Mr. Lali Ranvir Singh and   Mr. Anurag Sharma.

The meeting was also attended by Ms. Rinchen Lhamo, Member, NCM and Ms. Paramita Tripathi, Joint Secretary, MEA along with officials of NCM.

Chairman, NCM apprised  the delegation about the functions and mandate of NCM.  They were informed that NCM works on education, employment of minorities other than dealing with issues of discrimination against the minorities.  The delegation also explained the situation of minorities and their problems in New Zealand and the ways they are being handled there.   There was fruitful exchange of dialogue and ideas between the two countries.

3-Aug-2022: Security and Protection of Minority Communities

“Public Order” and “Police” are State subjects as per the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India. The responsibility of maintaining law and order, registration and prosecution of crimes against all citizens including minorities, rests with the respective State Governments. Government of India monitors the internal security and law and order situation in the country and issues appropriate advisories to States from time to time to maintain peace, public tranquility and communal harmony. Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) are deployed to aid and assist State Governments, on their request, to maintain law and order and public tranquility. Government of India has issued communal Harmony Guidelines, which, inter-alia lay down standard operating procedure to deal with situations arising out of communal violence. These guidelines are aimed to maintain due vigilance, careful planning and preparatory measures to prevent and pre-empt communal violence.

Whenever NCM receives any complaint in the matter, reports are called from the concerned Authorities. In some cases, when the report is not satisfactory, NCM also conducts hearings to resolve the issue. Further, in cases of media reports, NCM takes Suo moto cognizance and calls for report.

13-Apr-2022: Shri S. Iqbal Singh Lalpura assumes charge as Chairperson, National Commission for Minorities.

Shri S. Iqbal Singh Lalpura has assumed charge as Chairperson of the National Commission for Minorities, NCM, in New Delhi today after being re-nominated as Chairperson vide Ministry of Minority Affairs Notification dated 12.4.2022. During his previous term as Chairperson, NCM,  he worked tirelessly for the welfare of all the Minorities with a focused approach to ensure that the grievances of the Minorities are addressed and they avail the benefits of the Welfare schemes run by the Government.

10-Feb-2022: Percentage of Population as Minorities

Government notifies the minorities as per Section 2(c) of the National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992, and the Central Government has so far notified six communities as minority communities namely Christians, Sikhs, Muslims, Buddhists, Parsis and Jains.

The term “Minority” is not used in Census. However, data on all religions as reported by the people of India are collected in each Census. The last Census was conducted in 2011 and the Population of Sikh, Christian, Jain, Buddhist and Muslim of India (including Chhattisgarh) as per Census 2011 is given below: 

9-Aug-2021: Definition of Minority

Central Government notifies minority communities at the national level in consultation with various stakeholders under Section 2 (c) of National Commission for Minorities(NCM), Act,  1992.  The six communities notified as minority communities under Section 2(c) of the NCM Act, 1992 are Christians, Sikhs, Muslims, Buddhists, Parsis and Jains. Notification of any community specific to a State as minority community with in a State comes under the purview of the State concerned. 

The Article 29 and 30 of the Constitution provide for protection of interest of minorities which includes linguistic minorities also. The working definition followed by the Commissioner for linguistic minorities is as follows:- “Linguistic Minorities are group or collectivities of individuals residing in the territory of India or any part thereof having a distinct language or script of their own. The language of the minority group need not be one of the twenty two languages mentioned in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution. In other words, linguistic minorities at the State level mean any group or groups of people whose mother tongues are different from the principal language of the State, and at the district and taluka/tehsil levels, different from the principal language of the district or taluka/tehsil concerned.” The linguistic minorities are therefore identified by the respective States/UTs. The State/UT wise, broad linguistic profile is available in the 52nd Report of the Commissioner for Linguistic Minorities(CLM). Further, the interest of linguistic minorities are accorded due consideration and the office of Commissioner of Linguistic Minorities has been mandated to investigate all matters relating to the safeguards provided for linguistic minorities in the country.

The Government has already enacted the National Commission for Minorities(NCM) Act, 1992 to  constitute a National Commission for Minorities. The NCM receives petitions/grievances from the aggrieved persons and the said petitions/grievances being received by Commission are dealt with by calling for reports from the concerned authorities under the Union and State Governments. On receipt of the reports, the Commission makes appropriate recommendations to the respective authorities for redressal of the grievances.

2-Aug-2021: Revaluation of Minority Commission

The National Commission for Minorities (NCM) has informed that the erstwhile Minority Commission in its Annual Reports for the period 01.01.1981 to 31.03.1982 and 01.04.1982 to 31.03.1983, had recommended for setting up of a Committee to consider the need for considering and, if necessary, to formulate a scheme to establish a National Integration-cum-Human Rights Commission for promotion of secular traditions and national integration.           

The Government has already enacted the National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992 to constitute a National Commission for Minorities and to provide for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.  Accordingly, the first Statutory NCM was set up on 17th May 1993.  The  Section 2 (c) of NCM Act, 1992 stipulates that ‘Minority’ for the purposes of the Act, means a community notified as such by the Central Government.  The functions of the Commission as laid down in Section 9(1) of the Act are related to the six notified minority communities i.e. Jain, Parsi, Sikh, Christian, Buddhist and Muslim. The functions of NCM broadly include   (a) evaluate the progress of the development of minorities under the Union and States; (b) monitor the working of the safeguards provided in the Constitution and in laws enacted by Parliament and the State Legislatures; (c) make recommendations for the effective implementation of safeguards for the protection of the interests of minorities by the Central Government or the State Governments; (d) look into specific complaints regarding deprivation of rights and safeguards of the minorities and take up such matters with the appropriate authorities; (e) cause studies to be undertaken into problems arising out of any discrimination against minorities and recommend measures for their removal; (f) conduct studies, research and analysis on the issues relating to socio-economic and educational development of minorities;  (g) suggest appropriate measures in respect of any minority to be undertaken by the Central Government or the State Governments; (h) make periodical or special reports to the Central Government on any matter pertaining to minorities and in particular difficulties confronted by them; and (i) any other matter which may be referred to it by the Central Government. The NCM receives petitions/grievances from the aggrieved persons and the said petitions/grievances being received by Commission are dealt with by calling for reports from the concerned authorities under the Union and State Governments. On receipt of the reports, the Commission makes appropriate recommendations to the respective authorities for redressal of the grievances.

7-Dec-2017: NCM forms committee to consider Minority tag for Hindus

The National Commission for Minorities (NCM) has formed a three-member committee to look into whether Hindus should get minority status in eight states where they are not the dominant religious group. The committee will submit a report on this in three months.

Hindus are in a minority in Lakshadweep (2.5%), Mizoram (2.75), Nagaland (8.75), Meghalaya (11.53), J&K (28.44), Arunachal Pradesh (29) Manipur (31.39) and Punjab (38.4). It is argued that in the absence of the “minority” tag, benefits meant for the minority communities were being given away to majority community in each state in an illegal and arbitrary manner.

The Union Government set up the National Commission for Minorities (NCM) under the National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992. Six religious communities, viz; Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Zoroastrians (Parsis) and Jains have been notified in Gazette of India as minority communities by the Union Government all over India. Original notification of 1993 was for Five religious communities Sikhs, Buddhists, Parsis, Christians and Muslims.

The NCM adheres to the United Nations Declaration of 18 December 1992 which states that “States shall protect the existence of the National or Ethnic, Cultural, Religious and Linguistic identity of minorities within their respective territories and encourage conditions for the promotion of that identity.

26-May-2017: Syed Ghayorul Hasan Rizvi assumes charge of Chairman of National Commission for Minorities

Syed Ghayorul Hasan Rizvi assumed charge of the Chairman of the National Commission for Minorities.

Syed Ghayorul Hasan Rizvi is a graduate in Arts and also holds Diploma in Mechanics. He served as Chairman, U.P Minority Finance Development Corporation Ltd.

Shri Rizvi has been actively participating in social service. He worked for the improvement of the basic facilities and working conditions of Beedi workers and Weaver community in Uttar Pradesh. He also worked for Communal Harmony and National Integrity.