Since the state government has no policy for reservations for OBCs in higher education, it will be difficult to have a quota for Muslims in the same level. Even the Muslims who qualify for OBC categories would not get any preference in higher education as per the existing system. Therefore, job reservation, in isolation would not help the community, admit government officials.

In West Bengal, till now, 66 categories of people are under the OBC category of which 54 are Hindus and 12 Muslims. Three more categories — Khota, Sardar and Beldar — are likely to be included soon.

Officials in the education department said that most other states have reservation in higher education also. “Mere announcement of reservation in jobs will not serve any purpose if the OBCs do not find space in higher education,” said Ashok Sarkar, General Secretary of Officers Association in West Bengal. The latest figures obtained from various universities following RTI queries during 2009, make the point clear to some extent (see box).

State Finance Minister Asim Dasgupta, in a rough estimate after the announcement, had said that nearly 10,000 jobs would be created for Muslims immediately.

Muslim community leaders and academics, however, point out that the number of qualified Muslims students would actually fall far short of the requirement.

Muslim leader Siddiqullah Chowdhury said: “Earlier the Chief Minister had said there would be no reservation, now, he has announced reservation. We welcome the development.”

Siddiqullah, who is the state secretary of Jamiat-e-Ulema Hind, however, said the government should come up with a proper notification regarding the announcement.

“People from the minority community are angry with the Left Front government. Despite attempts, they are not ready to stand under the banner of the Left. This is a simple political decision. It is like giving something with one hand and taking it away with the other,” said A S Malihawadi, a Rajya Sabha MP from Bengal, who was nominated with Left backing.

“Sachar Committee pointed at the ailments and how grave it was while the Ranganath Mishra Commission has prescribed the treatment. It is a welcome step,” said Malihawadi. He too, meanwhile, added that “it is only after the electoral setbacks that the government has now agreed to give reservations. But the state should ensure there is reservation in higher education also.”

Vital stats
Of the 272,000 students currently enrolled in various graduation courses of the University of Calcutta, Muslims account for only 13,138 seats — 4.83 per cent of the total number. At the postgraduate level, only 656 students comprising a dismal 5.93 per cent of the total strength belong to the Muslim community. Of the 4,600 male students enrolled for the 2007-08 session, only 27 students belonged to the minority community. Also, only six of the total 1,600 female students for the 2007-08 session were Muslims.

BJP terms Muslim quota unconstitutional
A day after Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee announced 10 per cent reservation for Muslims in the state, the BJP leadership criticised the initiative, terming it as divisive and unconstitutional.

Leading the attack on the Bengal government, senior BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi said that the BJP is totally opposed to reservation on grounds of religion. He said such decisions will create a division in the country and vitiate the political atmosphere.