[Reader-list] NO CAVILING AT GUJARAT'S HARD FACTS

[Bipin Trivedi]

To an editorial published in the Indian Express on May 22 titled "
<http://www.indianexpress.com/news/hard-facts-to-face/622193/> Hard facts to
face" the Gujarat Government had sent a letter in response stating the
factual position regarding the status of Muslim in Gujarat.
<http://www.indianexpress.com/news/hard-facts/623677/0> A part of the letter
was published in the Indian Express dated May 26, 2010. The complete version
of the letter that was sent to the Editor Indian Express is enclosed
herewith so that you will be conversant with the real hard facts.



Refer link: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/hard-facts-to-face/622193/0


No caviling at Gujarat's hard facts

How do Muslims fare in Gujarat? They fare much better compared to other
states. The objective study by the Prime Minister's high-level committee
headed by Justice Rajendra Sachar, appointed by Prime Minister Dr Manmohan
Singh in 2006, indicates that Muslims in Gujarat perform and fare much
better when compared with other states in several key indicators such as
education, employment, income and access to critical infrastructure. The
editorial in the Indian Express dated May 22, 2010 is mostly based on
perceptions and anecdotal evidences rather than hard facts. However the
facts below speak for themselves.

In trying to make out a case for Muslim children being given a raw deal in
primary and upper primary school enrolment facts that has placed Muslims in
Gujarat on the top of literacy ladder have been totally ignored. According
to Sachar committee report the percentage of literacy of Muslims in Gujarat
is 73.5 per cent, the highest in India. It is pertinent to note that this is
much higher than that of national average of 59.1 per cent and also the
percentage of literacy of Hindus in Gujarat which is 68.3 per cent. Even
Muslim women in urban areas of Gujarat have average literacy rate 5 points
higher than the national average and rural Muslim women are far much better
with their literacy rate of 57 per cent as compared to the national average
of 43 per cent. If Muslim children are not provided education how can
Muslims in Gujarat attain the highest literacy rate in the country?

During 2009-10 the enrolment of Muslim children has been 6.45 per cent (as
against 4.7 per cent reported). It should be kept mind that this percentage
excludes the enrolment in Madarsas and also some of the private schools
which do not provide segregated data. The very fact that Muslims in Gujarat
have the highest literacy rate in the country proves that they have access
to education much better than in other states. If you look at Muslim
education attainment those who have passed the primary stage are 74.9 per
cent way ahead of the national average 60.9 per cent. In the category of
those who passed secondary education Gujarat at 45.3 is ahead of the
national average of 40.5 per cent. Even in the category of those who have
passed higher secondary level Gujarat with 26.1 per cent is ahead of the
national average of 23.9 per cent. In the average years of secondary
schooling provided between the age group of 7-16 once again Gujarat with
4.29 per cent is ahead of the nationa Your reference to Juhapura area of
Ahmedabad lacking schools due to "gradual disentitlement and ghettoisation
of Gujarat's Muslims" is specious to the say the least as the facts prove
otherwise. There are eight high schools out of which three are
government-aided schools. In Juhapura and surrounding areas there are 13
municipal primary schools funded by the state government and also 15 private
schools. Far from being ghettoized there is ample opportunity for the Muslim
children to enroll themselves.

Secondly it has become a knee-jerk habit of secularists to pooh-pooh the
good governance of the state of Gujarat. And as to your question if "his
fabled governance genius translate into a better life for those his politics
rejects?" the answer is clearly in the Sachar report which has called the
bluff of those who have tried to besmirch Gujarat.

In the very social sectors which your editorial cites as the indicator of
percolation of development to the minorities, Sachar Committee report
reveals the performance of Gujarat is far better than many other states. The
document also reveals Gujarat is far ahead in terms of providing education
facilities and health facilities. If we take the case availability of
schools in villages where there is Muslim population Gujarat is far ahead of
the national average. In the category of villages with population of Muslims
more than 2000 all the villages have education facility as against 98.7 per
cent national average. In the category of 1000 to 2000 population, 99.9 per
cent villages have education facilities as against the national average of
95.4 per cent. In the category of less than 1000 population 98.6 per cent of
the villages have education facility as against the national average of 80.4
per cent.

When we consider the availability of medical facilities in villages, where
Muslim population is more 2000, 89.9 per cent of the villages have medical
facilities as against the national average of 70.7 per cent. In the category
of 1000-2000 population, 66.67 per cent of villages have medical facilities
against the national average of 43.5 per cent. In the category of villages
less than 1000 population, 53 per cent of the villages have medical
facilities as against the national average of 20.2 per cent.

Even in the case of other indicators such as road connectivity, availability
of pucca approach road etc Gujarat is far ahead of national average and many
other states. Even on per month per capita income of Muslims is more than
the Hindus of Gujarat in rural areas. For Muslims it stands at Rs 668
compared to Rs 644 for Hindus (SCs Rs 527 and OBCs Rs 594). This is much
higher than many other states for example Andhra Pradesh (Rs 610); West
Bengal (Rs 501); UP (Rs 509); Karnataka (Rs 532); MP (Rs 475) . The per
capita income of Muslims in urban areas is also higher than the national
average and many other states. (see Sachar report). The prosperity of
Muslims in Gujarat when compared with other states is reflected in terms of
the bank account wise average deposit. For instance Gujarat it is Rs 32,932
compared to West Bengal Rs 13, 824, Assam Rs 26,319 to cite a few examples.

If you take the employment of Muslims in critical departments of government
such as home department, state transport dept and even in public sectors the
percentage of Muslims occupying high posts is higher in Gujarat when
compared with other States. Just to cite an example in Gujarat where the
percentage of Muslims is 9.1 the proportion of Muslims in high posts is 8.5
per cent whereas in West Bengal where the Muslim population is 25.2 per cent
the proportion of Muslims is merely 1.2 per cent. 

To discuss on each and every parameter to establish that Muslims fare far
better in Gujarat is neither required nor possible to enumerate in a letter.
Your editorial mentions that Modi should be open to verification of his
claims of inclusive development. The above mentioned facts clearly
demonstrate that better governance in Gujarat has been translated into a
better life for all the people in Gujarat, including the minorities. Your
editorial recommends open verification of the claims. The high-powered
committee appointed by the Prime Minister has to a great extent not only
verified the claims but also clearly established that these claims are true.