Context: Currently, National Commission for Minorities (NCM) has just one-member while five posts were lying vacant since May since the retirement of NCM’s vice-chairperson.
Concerns

In 2004, the standing committee on social justice and empowerment, headed by Sumitra Mahajan, had made specific recommendations to strengthen the NCM.

• Concern: These recommendations were never implemented.

Section 13 of the NCM Act mandates that the annual report, together with the memorandum of action taken on the recommendations contained therein, as well as the reasons for non-acceptance of the recommendations be tabled before Parliament annually.

• Concern: These reports have not been tabled in Parliament since 2010.

Even NCM vacancies were not filled in 2017. All seven posts remained empty for over two months, showing lethargy in government’s efforts in providing protection to minorities.
National Commission for Minorities (NCM)

• The Union Government set up the National Commission for Minorities (NCM) under the National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992.
• Hence, the NCM is a Statutory Body.
• Six religious communities, viz; Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Zoroastrians (Parsis) and Jains have been notified in Gazette of India as minority communities by the Union Government all over India.
• The NCM adheres to the United Nations Declaration of 18 December 1992 which states that “States shall protect the existence of the National or Ethnic, Cultural, Religious and Linguistic identity of minorities within their respective territories and encourage conditions for the promotion of that identity.”

Functions of the NCM

• Evaluate the progress of the development of Minorities under the Union and States.
• Monitor the working of the safeguards provided in the Constitution and in laws enacted by Parliament and the State Legislatures.
• Make recommendations for the effective implementation of safeguards for the protection of the interests of Minorities by the Central Government or the State Governments.
• Look into specific complaints regarding deprivation of rights and safeguards of the Minorities and take up such matters with the appropriate authorities.
• Cause studies to be undertaken into problems arising out of any discrimination against Minorities and recommend measures for their removal.
• Conduct studies, research and analysis on the issues relating to socio-economic and educational development of Minorities.
• Suggest appropriate measures in respect of any Minority to be undertaken by the Central Government or the State Governments.
• Make periodical or special reports to the Central Government on any matter pertaining to Minorities and in particular the difficulties confronted by them.
• Any other matter which may be referred to it by the Central Government.

Composition of the NCM

• The NCM is mandated to have seven members, including a chairperson and vice-chairperson, with a member each from the Muslim, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist, Parsi and Jain communities.
• Total of 7 persons to be nominated by the Central Government should be from amongst persons of eminence, ability and integrity. The Ministry for Minority Affairs recommends the names to the Prime Minister’s Office.
• Each Member holds office for a period of three years from the date of assumption of office.