Syed Ali Mujtaba
EDUCATION among Muslims is a matter of serious concern in India. Even while the literacy rate among Muslims has recently seen an upward trend, the higher education dropout rate continues to be a major problem for the community.
Since education is directly linked to income level and economics is overwhelmingly dependent on employment and wealth generation, a vicious circle has developed in India which has trapped the Muslim community.
The participation of Muslims in the regular salaried employment is 43.39%. This figure may look bright, but it has to be kept in consideration that Muslims are mostly engaged in the lower category of jobs and are at the bottom level of income. Since Muslims do not get enough job opportunities, they are mostly self-employed; the statistics show their share at 38.89%. Again, this is not the correct scenario because Muslims are at a low level of self-employed income generation. Then about 17.71% of Muslims work as casual workers. In such a situation how can Muslims of India afford the luxury of education?
The poor socioeconomic condition of Muslims is the prime reason for the low educational status of Muslims in India. An evaluation of educational status among Muslims done in 2014 says that Muslims have higher dropout rates at the senior secondary and higher levels of education.
To address the problem of dropouts among Muslim students, the government is offering many scholarship schemes and programmes about which the community must be enlightened.
These are:
i) Pre & Post Matric Scholarship Scheme: This is a merit-cum-means based scheme through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mode.
ii) Naya Savera Scheme: This scheme aims to provide free coaching to students/candidates belonging to economically weaker sections of minority communities for preparation of entrance examinations for technical/professional courses.
iii) Padho Pardesh Scheme: It offers a subsidy in the interest rate on educational loans to students from economically weaker sections of minority communities. This loan is also applicable for higher studies abroad.
iv) Nai Roshni Scheme: This is a leadership development scheme for women belonging to minority communities.
v) Seekho Aur Kamao: It is a skill development scheme for the youth in the 14-35 years age group. It is aimed at improving the employability of existing workers, school dropouts, etc.
vi) Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram (PMJVK) Scheme: It is designed to address the development deficits of the identified minority concentration areas. The areas of implementation under it have been identified based on minority population and socio-economic and basic amenities data of Census 2011.
vii) Upgrading Skills and Training in Traditional Arts/Crafts for Development (USTTAD): This was launched in May 2015. It aims to preserve the rich heritage of traditional skills of indigenous artisans/craftsmen. Under it, Hunar Haats (Skilled hands) are organised all over the country to provide a nationwide marketing platform to minority artisans and entrepreneurs and to create employment opportunities for them.
viii) Virasat Ka Samvardhan (PM Vikaas): The PM Vikas Scheme has been added to the Ministry of Minority Affairs’ Budget in 2023. The initiative focuses on honing the skills, entrepreneurship, and leadership training requirements of the minority and artisan communities across the country. The scheme is intended to be implemented in conjunction with the ‘Skill India Mission’ of the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship through integration with the Skill India Portal (SIP).
The way forward for Muslims is to register NGOs in all parts of the country in liaison with the education department of the government and implement the schemes in the areas of Muslim concentration.
This could include providing better educational facilities adjacent to areas with a sizeable Muslim population. The facilities may include giving Muslim students vocational and skill-based training to improve their employment prospects.
The most backward Muslim regions in India are the Nuh district of Haryana and the Seemanchal region comprising nine districts of Bihar. Muslims in these places are in dire need of “educational intervention.” The community leadership should rise to the occasion and make targeted efforts to improve the education status of Muslims in these backward regions of the country.
Instead of looking at the hostile government’s largesse, the Muslim community could shoulder the task of improving its education level.
In these testing times, the community needs more Muslims to be posted at police stations throughout the country. Similarly, more Muslims are required for administrative jobs so that the community may feel empowered. It is only through education that Muslims can successfully clear competitive exams and fill the vacant government posts.
This can happen only when community leadership plays a major role in improving the educational standards of Muslims in India. The silver lining in the dark sky is that religious leaders i.e. clerics, philanthropists, NGOs, etc. are getting involved in educating the Muslims. Organisations like Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind, Khanqah-e Rahmaniya at Munger in Bihar have stepped in to take up the challenge. More NGOs are coming forward to improve the educational standards of Muslims in India.
Indian Muslims have woken up to the reality that education is the key to the progress of the community. The work at the grassroots level has begun. It is a tall order, no doubt. But that’s the way forward if Muslims have to live in India with dignity.
Dr Syed Ali Mujtaba is a journalist based in Chennai. He can be contacted at syedalimujtaba2007@gmail.com
