Status of Muslim Women

A High Level Committee, constituted under the Chairmanship of Justice (Retd.) Rajinder Sachar, in its report has indicated that the Muslim Community (as a whole) lags behind the mainstream in social, economic and educational sectors. As per Sachar Committee Report, the literacy level of Muslim females as compared to others are - Female (Urban) – 2001 All Hindus Scheduled Castes/ Scheduled Tribes Muslims All Others 73 74 58 63 78 Female (Rural) – 2001 All Hindus Scheduled Castes/ Scheduled Tribes Muslims All Others 46 46 36 43 52 (Source: Sachar Committee Report based on 2001 Census) Religion-wise data of Census 2011 is not available. As per Sachar Committee report, about 38 % of Muslims in urban areas and 27 % in rural areas live below the poverty level. Poverty level separately for Muslim women is not available.              The Government has taken following initiatives for the educational development of Minority girls including Muslims. -Under all the scholarship schemes of Ministry of Minority Affairs namely, Pre-matric, Post-matric, Merit-cum-Means based scholarships, 30% of the scholarships are earmarked for girl students. -30% of the fellowships are earmarked for female scholars under Maulana Azad National Fellowship scheme. -Under Free coaching and Allied Scheme, 30% of the number sanctioned for coaching/ training is earmarked for girl students/ candidates. -Maulana Azad Education Foundation, under the administrative control of the Ministry of Minority Affairs implements a scholarship scheme for meritorious girls students belonging to notified minority communities. -To facilitate and motivate education amongst girls of minority communities, free bicycles are given to the eligible minority girl students of class 9th  under Multi-secotral Development Programme (MsDP). -Under ‘Seekho Aur Kamao’ scheme for upgrading the skills of minority youths in various modern / traditional vocations and linked them with market in order to ensure employment/ jobs, minimum 33% of seats are earmarked for minority girls. -Under Prime Minister’s New 15 Point Programme for welfare of minorities, 555 Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas (KGBVs) have been sanctioned since 2006-07 in the minority concentrated areas and all are operational.  Department of School Education and Literacy has also issued instructions that as KGBV schools are part of the regular upper primary school system of the State, the State Government / Union Territory’s particular policy for instruction in Urdu medium should be adopted for the KGBV schools. The Urdu teachers available in the system should be deployed for the purpose. -The University Grants Commission (UGC) pays special attention to setting up of women’s hostels in higher education institutions in Muslim concentration areas. UGC has sanctioned 285 Women’s Hostels during 11th Plan in 90 Minority Concentration Districts. During the 12th Plan upto 2014-15 (upto September, 2014), 133 women’s hostels have been sanctioned in Minority Concentrated Districts.