By Special Correspondent
Patna, Dec 21 : “There is an urgent need of investment in Muslim education keeping in view the rising population of the community as population and economy are interlinked and should be seen in that perspective.” said Nadeem Noor of UNFPA while addressing a three day international conference on Muslim education Friday.
The conference which is being organised by AFMI (American federation of Muslims of Indian Origin) in collaboration with FLAME (Forum for Literacy, Awareness and Muslim Education) started amidst glittering gathering of intellectuals, academicians and bureaucrats with a pledge to work towards upliftment and betterment of Muslims throughout the country.
He however, said that in between 2001 to 2011 Muslim literacy rate increased phenomenally though their participation in work force declined from 39% to 30%, which was a major concern.
Noor said that in this context it was necessary to spread education amongst Muslim particularly the women standing at the marginalised end.
Inaugurating the event, principal secretary, minority welfare department Amir Subhani said, “The state government has implemented several schemes for the upliftment of minority community notable among them are opening up of a residential school in every district and constructing buildings for madarsas to impart education in the state.”
Subhani further said, ‘The government is also planning to make grants to Madarsas while it is already giving scholarship to Muslim students.’
AFMI vice-president Farhat Hassan said that it was the need of the hour to empower the women and the young Muslims through enhanced knowledge and higher education, bridging the gap between Muslim community and the other communities which are higher on education index.
It’s time we should pay more attention to the girl child so that they can become good mother, and subsequently change the society, which is certainly not an uphill task, she said and adds, ‘It’s necessary that along with education we inculcate in the children good values, making a positive and suitable environment in the country to live in.
Addressing on the occasion Lt Gen (retd) Zameer Uddin Shah, who was also Vice Chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University said “I have been repeatedly requesting all to join us for the renaissance in the Muslim community,” said Shah in his key note address at a day-long workshop on ‘Strategies and Approaches for Empowering Young Muslims — Building Resilience, strengthening nation’ in Patna.
He said children belonging to the community must be given best school education and for this the community should build schools with modern outlook with Islamic ethos on the lines of Christian missionaries-run institutions.
Notably AFMI was founded 26 years back consisting NRIs of USA and Canada who were instrumental in working towards betterment of Muslim society.
The founder trustee of AFMI Dr A S Nakadar who lives in USA and was present during the conference said that the organisation was established with three main objectives i.e., 100% literacy among Muslims in India, Relief and rehabilitation work on humanitarian basis and political education.
Nakadar said that AFMI was instrumental in establishing schools in various parts of the country including West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat, to increase the literacy rate amongst Muslims particularly the young boys and girls.
President AFMI, Mohammad Qutubuddin said that it was important how we mobilise the younger generation towards acquiring new age technology especially in their formative years, setting the goal to be achieved in life. The aim is the younger lots not only acquire education but are able to serve the community and the nation at large, he said adding, “We can learn from other communities in this process.”
President-elect Sirajjudin Thakor who lives in Canada said that as Indians we want to pay back to our country and community at large and in this context AFMI every year organises meets in different cities of India and in coming years it will continue its journey to educate and transform the muslim community.
Nakadar informed that when AFMI began its journey, literacy rate among Muslims was 30% which increased substantially to 64% in the 2011 census and in 2018 the literacy rate of Muslims stands at 70% and we are pretty sure that by 2021 it will reach to 75% as we are on our way to attain 100% literacy.
President FLAME and eminent surgeon Dr A A Hai said that literacy among Muslims have increased considerably since the 5th conference held in Patna in the year 1996 attended by then Prime Minister H D Devegowda. Dr Hai on the occasion announced that FLAME will be felicitating Muslim students coming 1st, 2nd and 3rd in state board examination of Class X and Class XII, which will inspire the younger generation to acquire education thereby reducing school dropouts among the community which is presently very high.
Speaking on the occasion UNICEF’s Asaidur Rehman said, ‘Every Muslim child should get same opportunity to develop irrespective of any discrimination.’ He said that with education amongst girl child, community’s economic condition will increase substantially.
AFMI organising secretary Khurshid Ahmad said that FLAME and AFMI will continue to work towards educating minority community especially muslims till 100% literacy is not achieved.
Better late than never!
Good job by AFMI
But… congress does not want Muslims to become educated. They want Muslims to remain religious and fool.
Proof is this news itself. Congress ruled country for more than 60 years, result is that litracy among Muslims is still abysmally low. On the other hand under BJP government it’s the Muslim women who are biggest beneficiary. They are being empowered. Giving education to girl child is more important today because with education she brings about or fosters good change in her family and society.