NEW DELHI : According to a survey conducted by Social Network for Assistance to People (SNAP), there has been a threefold increase in Muslim representation in the West Bengal Civil Services (WBCS) over the last years.
SNAP pointed out that step to increase Muslim participation in government sector was taken towards the end of Left Front government tenure through reservation. Its results emerged after Trinamool attained power in 2011.
Inclusion of Muslim community in the OBC category has played an important role in creating the upwards success trend of the success of Muslim candidates in WBSC as per the assistant secretary of SNAP Sabir Ahamed.
Ahamed who is also associated with Professor Amartya Sen’s Pratichi Institute however said that obtaining the OBC certificate is still fraught with difficulties.
Abdus Sattar, Madrasa Education Minister in the former Left Front government credited his erstwhile government with the inclusion of Muslims in the OBC category. “Since Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee often says that she has to carry the debt legacy of the Left Front, she should also admit that the increase in Muslim representation in WBCS is a legacy of the Left,” Mr. Sattar told The Hindu . However he acknowledged partial credit to current CM of the state Mamata Banerjee for higher representation of Muslims in the government sector.
In 2011, Muslims recorded 5.29 % success rate over all in WBCS. In 2014 this rate escalated to 17.4%. Group wise the change in three years was as follows: Group A, 8.20 in 2011 and 22.07 in 2014. Group C, 5.29 in 2011 and 16.32 in 2014. Group D, 1.72 in 2011 and 13.93 in 2014. In Group B [police services], however the increase was only marginal according to SNAP survey.
As per Justice Sachar Committee report, Muslim representation in all government jobs, including WBCS, was significantly low in 2006.
“But the situation has improved during Trinamool rule,” said Ahmed Hassan Imran, MP to The Hindu. He also credited the CM for taking steps that have instilled confidence among Muslim youth.
“Muslims now believe, they have the ability to clear WBCS,” he added.
Speaking of coaching institutes for WBCS Mr Imran said that several coaching institutes have emerged for WBCS coaching now whereas “earlier setting up of such institutes for minorities was interpreted as ‘communal activity,”
Activists in the education sector have attributed the positive trend of Muslim representation in WBCS to awareness created by NGO in Mulsim dominated areas and cropping up of coaching institutes in those areas. According to researchers the Muslim dominated districts of Bengal did not have such institutes earlier.
“The institutes were started in 2007-2008 and eventually started drawing a large number of students,” said Samim Sarkar, who conducted the survey.
Simply because Mr Modi shifted to new Capital Dhaka.