‘Minorities not adequately represented in police, DDA’

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, January 18

Representatives from minority communities constitute a minuscule percentage and not more than 5 per cent in major service departments, including the Delhi Police, DDA and even in departments like tourism and transport, going by a government report expressing concern on the situation.

The Delhi Minorities Commission has shared the findings in its annual report (2015-16), which was today submitted to Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, who promised action based on the recommendations.

According to the report, only 2,993 personnel of the 77,397 member-strong Delhi Police belong to the minority communities, which come to around 3.8 per cent as mentioned in the section “Representation of Minorities in Government Services”.

Of the 6,031 employees of Delhi Development Authority, 295 are minorities while only 32 employees out of 741 in the Delhi Tourism and Transportation belong to the minority communities. The corresponding figures stand at 4.8 and 4.3 per cent respectively.

“There has to be a sense of security among minorities. But the report gives a dismal picture. We need to find out whether it is deliberate or on grounds of merit. Either ways, we need to take action and it has to be fixed. The recommendations will be studied and steps taken,” Sisodia told reporters.

Delhi Government will consider the suggestions therein for improving and ameliorating the social, educational and economic conditions of the people belonging to minority communities in Delhi.

Delhi Minority Commission was set up as a statutory body by an enactment called Delhi Minority Commission Act 1999 and its chairman is Qamar Ahmad, who handed over the report to Sisodia.

Minorities Commission mandate is to address issues and concerns related to the six notified communities-- Muslim, Sikh, Christian, Parsi, Buddhist and Jain-- based on religion.