Sangliana is new vice-chairman of Minority Commission

Former police commissioner of Bangalore and ex-Lok Sabha MP, HT Sangliana, on Tuesday took charge as the new vice-chairman of the National Commission for Minorities (NCM).

The Government of India informed Sangliana's appointment in a gazette notification on Dec. 14. The Christian leader from northeast now replaces Michael P Pinto.

NCM is a govt. body constituted to monitor and evaluate the progress of people classified as minorities by the Indian government.

The Commission, headed by Chairperson Mohammed Shafi Qureshi, comprises three members apart from a Vice Chairman.

NCM makes recommendations for the effective implementation of safeguards for the protection of the interests of minorities by the Central Governments or the State Governments.

It also looks into specific complaints regarding deprivation of rights and safeguards of the minorities and take up such matters with the appropriate authorities.

The NCM adheres to the UN Declaration of 18 December 1992 which states that ""States shall protect the existence of the National or Ethnic, Cultural, Religious and Linguistic identity of minorities within their respective territories and encourage conditions for the promotion of that identity."