Problems faced by Muslim women in the country must be taken into consideration while implementing the recommendations of Sachar Committee, the chairman of the National Commission for Minorities said on Saturday.
"Implementation of the Sachar report must take women's issues into notice," NCM Chaiman Hamid Ansari said.
"If it is not done, then only 50 per cent of the Muslim population would be benefitted and the whole process would be absolutely defective," he said addressing a seminar titled 'Consultation on Social, Economic and Educational Implications of the Sachar Report on Muslim Women.'
Calling for the speedy implementation of the Sachar Committee report, women's rights activist V Mohini Giri said, "Innumerable reports have been lying stacked and no action has been taken. Let us hope the Sachar Committee findings are not one of those numerous reports on which nothing is done."
"The Muslim community also should stand up and fight for the facilities, which it rightly deserves," she said.
Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Subhashini Ali demanded more rights for the National Commission for Minorities and said it should be given the status of a statutory body.
"The NCM seems to be a toothless body right now. It should be given statutory powers as early as possible so that the government can be held accountable for it's actions," she said.
The day-long seminar would try to look into the social, educational and economic implications of the Sachar Committee report on Muslim women.
Muslim women are suffering due to the incorrect interpretaion of the Shariat laws, Ali said.
"Shariat laws are being interpreted against women by some people with vested interests. Public opinion must be created for reforms in the interpretaion of the Shariat laws," she added.
Academician Imtiaz Ahmad said, "Correct interpretaion of the laws is very important."
"When the laws are very clearly written down in great detail, then why don't we read and understand them correctly?" he asked.
"There is need for intra-community dialogue among the Muslims on this issue," he added.
"The Ulema from time to time has opposed the education of women, but our laws have never said any such thing," Ahmad said.
