Muslims better off in Kerala and Karnataka thanks to state efforts too

By U Rehman (NDChronicle.Com)

Muslims in Southern states of Kerala and Karnataka are much well off than in other places. They are well off in almost all the indices of development than their counterparts in northern Indian states of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar where illiteracy among Muslims is very high and Muslims don’t get government jobs very often.

the ratio of Muslims in government jobs is abysmally low in not just Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal and Assam, but also in Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and some other states.

But in Kerala and Karnataka Muslims are better off in this respect too. Though in Kerala Muslims ratio in government jobs is not as high as their ratio in population, in Karnataka it is closer to their ratio in state population.

But in Kerala and Karnataka and to some extent in Tamil Nadu too, Muslims are well off economically and educationally. The level of unemployment is low and t

In a comparison with other states in India, Kerala and Karnataka should be appreciated for offering reservation to Muslims and other backward communities. Rajinder Sachar Committee's report on Social Economic and Educational Status of Muslims in India patted the south Indian states for their better consideration of backward classes into government jobs from colonial period itself.

On a look back into the history, it is clear that Kerala and Karnataka considered their backward communities in terms of their backwardness and not by their religious affiliations as is the case in the rest of the nation. Well-established princely rulers of Kerala and Karnataka boosted the trend in both the states. The erstwhile princely states had given chances to Muslims and backward classes and made them partners in the progress and development of the nation.

"In terms of their policy of reservation for backward classes, Kerala and Karnataka stand out having extended the benefit of reservation to their entire Muslim population," the Sachar Committee report specially mentioned.

It is a fact, indeed. As early as 1874, there were better plans for reservation for backward people in Karnataka. The princely state of Mysore distributed 80 percent of government posts in police to non-Brahmins, Muslims and Indian Christians and so on. The same way in Kerala there were commendable moves from the side of its rulers in British India to provide better reservation for backward communities.

Even after the reorganization of the states after independence of India in 1947, there was good consideration for backward communities in government jobs. As a whole, Kerala and Karnataka could thus stand out in aspects of reservation for Muslims and other marginalized sects of the society.