The Rajasthan government is collecting data on all Muslim employees in the state’s health department, claiming that it has to be sent to the Centre under the Sachar panel recommendations, The Indian Express reported.
The information pertains to the employees’ place of posting and retirement date, Joint director (administration) of the health department, BL Saini told the daily.
According to the report, the State Directorate of Medical, Health and Family Welfare Services has asked Rajasthan chief medical officers for a head count of all Muslim employees in all posts – except for doctors – at all sub-centres, public health centres and community health centres.
“The Muslim staff feels they are being targeted for their religion. They are scared,” said Dr Nasreen Bharti of All Rajasthan In-service Doctors Association (ARISDA) told the Hindustan Times.
Govt Cites Sachar
A Times of India report says the letter was sent on 9 December. However, The Indian Express accessed a letter – dated 30 November and signed by BL Saini, joint director, administration, of the state directorate – that read:
In the pro forma attached with the letter, furnish information of Muslim employees posted at sub-centres, public health centres (PHCs) and community health centres (CHCs) under your jurisdiction, and ensure that it is mailed immediately to the departmental email id…
BL Saini told the The Indian Express: “Government of India had recently asked every state to collect details of employees from the minority community so that welfare schemes, as per the Sachar Committee’s recommendations, can be implemented.”
Bharatpur CMHO Gopal Ram told the Times of India: "I have directed my deputy to compile the list and send it to the health department by 15 December.
The Sachar Committee was commissioned in 2005 to study the socio-economic and educational status of Muslims in India.
(This is a developing story and will be updated.)
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