Challenges mounting for Muslim community — study

Growing economic discrimination, social inequality among issues

Growing economic discrimination, social inequality, security concerns and a steep fall in political representation are among the major challenges members of the Muslim community are facing in India, a study has found.

The problems have further worsened over the last four years since the Narendra Modi-led BJP came to power in the country, according to a new study by a group of economists and social scientists.

The four-year study, undertaken to prepare a “Vision 2025” for Indian Muslims, was led by development economist Amirullah Khan and released by the renowned constitutional expert and legal luminary, A.G. Noorani, in Hyderabad.

Sharing the findings of the study at a gathering of intellectuals in Hyderabad on Saturday Amirullah Khan said, apart from assessing the situation that emerged over the last four years and current status of Muslims, the study has also looked at what could happen next and what challenges the Muslim minority are likely to face over the next ten years.

If India is going to become an economic super power it should tackle the issue of discrimination ... The disruption of the social fabric of the country will have not only political and social but economic effects.” Amirullah Khan | Economist

‘Worst fears’ come true

He said the worst fears expressed at the time Narendra Modi came to power in the 2014 polls have come true and the problems of the Muslim community have worsened.

“If India is going to become an economic super power it should tackle the issue of discrimination as it can cut down the economic benefits by 30 per cent,” he said. “The disruption of the social fabric of the country will have not only political and social but economic effects”.

The study, to which many researchers have contributed, has found that Muslims in urban areas of India are poorer than the scheduled castes and tribes; while in rural areas Muslims are better off than the other marginalised sections.

“The bigger the cities, the poorer Muslims are,” he said.

In 60 cities of more than one million, members of the Muslim community were the poorest.

Saying India was the slowest urbanising country in the world, the study revealed that urban migration among Muslims were at their lowest.

While 38 per cent of Muslims lived in urban areas, 62 per cent were in rural areas.

Khan said the fear of lack of security, as well as discrimination in education, employment and housing could be deterring many Muslims from moving to the cities.