Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil said on Wednesday that the Government would explore the possibility of providing reservation for minorities in educational institutions and government jobs.

However, his colleague Human Resource Development Minister Arjun Singh said later in the day that no such proposal to give reservation on religious grounds was under the Centre’s consideration.

“Muslims can get reservation under the OBC quota, but right now not on religious grounds,” Mr Singh told reporters after a meeting of the National Monitoring Committee for Minorities Education here.

Earlier, addressing a conference of the State Minority Commissions here, the Home Minister said reservation had been provided for SCs and STs in educational institutions and government jobs and now the demand has come from the minorities. “This is what is happening. The question is can it be done. We have to apply our minds to this and try to find out how it can be done in the best possible manner,” Patil said adding, “whatever can be done for this purpose should be done. We cannot say that it cannot be done. Whatever ingenuity can be used in order to help the people who should be helped in these areas should be taken,” the Home Minister said. Patil also said that it was the duty of any government to protect the minorities so that the country remained united.

Committee probe

Meanwhile, the HRD Minister also announced that a committee led by Minister of State M A A Fatmi would look into allegations that funds for Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan and Mid Day Meal schemes for the minority-concentrated districts were not reaching the people. The committee would submit its report in two months’ time.

He also said the University Grants Commission had directed all universities and institutions to associate a member from the Minority community in the various Selection Committees. Out of 370 proposed degree colleges to be set up in the 11 th Plan, 88 Muslim concentration districts would be covered.

New schemes

“A new Centrally-sponsored scheme is proposed for assistance to polytechnics which ensures that each Muslim Minority concentration district has a polytechnic for which non-recurring expenditure is proposed to be made available,” Mr Singh said.

Maintaining that Government had not given up its proposal of Madarsah modernization the HRD minister said, “we hope some unanimity will emerge on the proposal to set up the Central Madarsah Board.”