Govt. mulls constitutional status for NCM

The Indian Government is considering giving constitutional status to National Commission for Minorities (NCM) with a view to providing it autonomy, Minister for Minority Affairs A.R. Antulay has announced.

In a written reply to the Rajya Sabha (Upper House of the Parliament), March 6, he said the Constitution (103rd Amendment) Bill, 2004, to confer constitutional status on the National Commission was introduced on December, 2004.

The Bill was referred to the Standing Committee on Social Justice and Empowerment for examination, Antulay said, adding that the recommendations made in the report of the Committee were being examined.

In reply to another question, he said the number of cases under the Dowry Prohibition Act showed a rise from 2,684 in 2003 to 3,592 in 2004 but fell to 3,204 in 2005.

The number of female foeticide cases rose from 57 in 2003 to 86 in 2004 and remained the same in 2005, Antulay said. Minister for Law and Justice H.R. Bhardwaj informed the Upper House that the Government was considering a proposal to set up Gram Nyayalayas (village courts) for the redressal of local disputes.

He also informed the House that the Government has received a representation from the Women Power Connect (WPC), a National–level organisation consisting of 500 groups and individuals working together with the aim of formalising the process of legislative coordination, to generate awareness about 33 percent reservation for women in Lok Sabha and state assemblies.