In what can be termed as a political masterstroke, the Akhilesh Yadav government has decided to ensure 20 per cent reservation of benefits in all developmental schemes for minorities, particularly Muslims.
The Samajwadi Party, with this decision, is confident of getting maximum Muslim support in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
It may be recalled that the state government cannot introduce reservation for Muslims in government jobs due to legal glitches and has therefore evolved this new scheme which will allow direct benefit to Muslims.
According to highly-placed sources, the state government will shortly issue directives that 20 per cent of all welfare schemes must go to Muslims and Muslim-dominated areas.
For instance, if 100 handpumps have to be installed in each district, then 20 of them will be installed in areas that have a dominant Muslim population.
Similar rules will be followed in opening new aanganwadi centres and primary health centres.
Legislators will also be directed to spend at least 20 per cent of the legislators’ funds in Muslim-populated areas. The proposal for this will shortly be approved by the state Cabinet.
Disclosing the provisions of the new scheme, a senior SP minister said that committees will be formed at the district level under the chairmanship of the district magistrate which will constantly monitor the implementation of the scheme.
The progress and implementation of this scheme will be monitored by the chief secretary every three months.
“We cannot give reservation in jobs to Muslims due to legal issues but we can give them direct benefit of developmental schemes being implemented by the state government. Barring roads and bridges, which come under infrastructure development, we will make sure that the Muslim population gets adequate benefits in health, education and related sectors,” the minister said.
The state government further plans to introduce this system in Centrally-aided schemes too.