The annual conference of the State Minorities Commission began recently. This year the theme of the conference was ‘Sensitivity of the Majority and Responsibility of the Minorities in Secular India.’ This is in line with the Vision Statement of the National Commission. The Vision Statement also includes the mandate for the commission to ensure that the minorities do not violate rights of the members of the majority community in any manner whatsoever.
In line with the Vision Statement of the NCM and the theme for the conference, it was scheduled for one and half days, and had three sessions. The topics for the the three sessions were — ‘Achieving communal harmony’, ‘The role minorities must play in securing national defence and public security’ and ‘Education and the minorities — access and form’.
The conference was inaugurated by Vice President of India. Address was delivered by well-known constitutional experts and noted jurist Fali S Nariman during the inaugural Session. The Minister for Minority Affairs and the Minister of State for Minority Affairs also participated in the inaugural session.
The conference is held every year on a theme which the National Commission for Minorities is considers as relevant and important to the Minorities and the State Minorities Commissions, the State Governments particularly the Minority Welfare Departments and NGOs dealing with minority issues.