Monday, August 1 2005 17:08 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Government has constituted a seven-member Committee, headed by Justice Rajinder Sachar, to prepare a factual report on the social, economic and educational status of the Muslim community, Rajya Sabha was informed today (August 1, 2005).

The committee will finalize its report within 15 months with effect from the date of its notification on March 9, 2005, Minister of state for Social Justice and Empowerment Subbulaxmi Jagadeesan said in a written reply. She said there was no proposal to set up similar committees in respect of other religious entities.

The Ministry of Tribal Affairs has been mandated to formulate a comprehensive central legislation to redress the historical injustice done to the forest dwelling Scheduled Tribes by providing for clear assertion of their rights in land and other traditional forest rights, Minister of Tribal Affairs P R Kyndiah said.

The ministry, he said has prepared a draft "the STs (Recognition of Dourest Rights) Bill, 2005" to provide a legislative frame for recognition of the aforementioned rights in consultation with the concerned Ministries, including Law and Justice.

To another question, Kyndiah said as per the poverty estimates for STs made by the planning commission in 1999-2000, 45.86 per cent of STs population in rural areas and 34.75 percent in urban areas lived below the poverty line in the country.