New Delhi, November 17
Concerned over the drop in numbers of Muslim students in premier academic institutions like the IITs and the IIMs, the National Monitoring Committee for Minority Education (NMCME) has proposed reservation for students of this minority community.

Chairing a day-long meeting of the NMCME, HRD Minister Arjun Singh said a decision on the reservation for minority students in institutions like the IITs and IIMs could be taken only after considering various aspects, including the legal. “Public interest is fairly large. It is only how you perceive it to be important. But the suggestions having come from the monitoring committee, I certainly feel it should be considered”, he said.

The Standing Committee of the NMCME has suggested that the number of minority students is on the decline in IIMs, IITs and IIFT and proper reservation should be made for the admission of minority students in such institutions.

“As done in the case of the SC/ST, a centre may be established in the existing IITs/IIMs where bright students from the backward communities may be identified through an entrance test/screening test based on the qualifying exam for imparting coaching facilities to them”, the committee has said.

Referring to the de-recognition of Aligarh Muslim University’s as a minority institution, the minister said the Centre had already appealed before a two-member Bench of the court.

He went on to add that there was a consensus in the meeting for a coordinated mechanism for various councils dealing with higher education in the country. Observing that there were nearly 15 councils concerning various ministries, he said the need for a coordinated action was felt so that fragmentation was not reflected in policy-making.

As for the Committee’s suggestion for scrapping of the madarsa modernisation scheme and creation of a central madarsa board, he said the issue needed consultations at various levels.