Tim Uppal, Minister of State for Multiculturalism, Canada included Mr. Stewart Beck, High Commissioner of Canada to India, Mr. Sidney Frank, Minister and Mr. Joe Kanoza, Manager of Communications and Stakeholder Relations.
Shri K. Rahman Khan informed the delegation that India is traditionally a multi-cultural society.
India has five notified religious minorities Muslims, Sikhs, Christian, Buddhists and Parsis but most of our states are linguistic and issues relating to linguistic minorities are also taken care of. Responding to a query from Mr. Uppal, the Minister said that there is no law but through affirmative actions, employment of minorities is monitored.
Moreover, there is also a directive from the Prime Minister that under PM’s 15-Point Programme, at least 15% of the funds allotted for social schemes of eleven Ministries have to be spent for the cause of minorities.
Basically, it is an attempt to remove development deficit existing among minorities.
An initiative of constituting a National Committee comprising of members of various minority communities is in process for discussing the issues related to minorities.
The Minister added that a High Level Committee under Justice Rajender Sachar was constituted to prepare a report on the social, economic and educational status of Muslims in India.
Based on Sachar Committee recommendations, for ensuring focussed approach towards issues relating to the minorities a multi-pronged strategy has been adopted for the development, empowerment and welfare of the 220 Million plus minorities of India.
Referring to Pravasi Bhartiya Divas, the Minister said India and Canada enjoy warm relations and Non-Residents Indians specially Sikhs in Canada have contributed significantly for the development of Canada as well as in grown of Indian Economy.
