National Minority Rights Day, also known as Minorities Day, is annually observed across India on 18th December to create awareness about the constitutionally assured rights of religious minorities. The day aims to highlight the importance of freedom and equal opportunities for minorities in India while raising awareness about their rights.
- The theme for Minorities Rights Day 2024 is “Promoting Diversity and Protecting Rights”.
- 18th December 2024 marks the observance of the 12th Minority Rights Day.
Significance of Minorities Rights Day
- Minorities Rights Day, observed annually to commemorate the United Nations General Assembly’s (UNGA) adoption of the Declaration on the Rights of National, Ethnic, Religious, and Linguistic Minorities through resolution A/RES/47/135 on 18th December, 1992.
- In India, National Minorities Rights Day was first observed on 18th December 2013.
Who are minorities?
i.A minority group is defined as a community that lacks social, political, and economic dominance and is numerically inferior within a country.
ii.Under Section 2 (c) of the National Commission for Minorities (NCM) Act, 1992, the Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Buddhists, Jain and Zoroastrians (Parsis) have been notified as minority communities.
iii.However, Jains were notified as a minority community only in 2014.
Events 2024:
On December 18 2024, Union Minister of State(MoS), George Kurian, Ministry of Minority Affairs(MoMA), initiated the event of Minority Day 2024 with the presence of Iqbal Singh Lalpura, Chairman, National Commission for Minorities(NCM) and senior officials of NCM in New Delhi, Delhi.
Union Minister of State(MoS), George Kurian emphasized the need for effective execution of government schemes, aligning with the Prime Minister’s “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas(together with all, development for all, trust of all, and efforts by all).”
- Book Release: Released a book on ‘Sikhism’, authored by Iqbal Singh Lalpura.
- Newsletter Launch: Launched the third edition of the Newsletter of the National Commission of Minorities.
- Minority Day Quiz: Launched the Minority Day Quiz, focusing on the diverse minority communities in India.
Key Initiatives and Schemes for Minorities in India:
i.National Minorities Development & Finance Corporation (NMDFC): The NMDFC was incorporated in 1994 under Section 25 of the Companies Act 1956 (now Section-8 of Companies Act,2013). Concessional loans to minorities through NMDFC.
ii.Nai Roshni Scheme: Scheme for Leadership Development of minority women.
iii.‘Nai Manzil’- A scheme to provide education and skill training to the
youth from minority communities.
iv.The Upgrading the Skills and Training in Traditional Arts/Crafts for Development (USTTAD) Scheme:This scheme focuses on the promotion and preservation of traditional arts and crafts of minorities, especially handicrafts and handlooms.
Key Constitutional Protections in India for Minorities
- Fundamental Rights: Articles 14, 15, 16, and 21 ensure equality, prohibit discrimination, and guarantee equal public employment opportunities.
- Cultural Rights: Articles 29 and 30 protect minority languages, culture, and educational institutions.
- Special Provisions: Article 350A supports mother tongue education for minority children.
About National Commission for Minorities (NCM)
The National Commission for Minorities (NCM) is a statutory body established by the Government of India in 1992. It aims to safeguard the rights and interests of religious minorities in India.
Chairman – Iqbal Singh Lalpura
Headquarters – New Delhi, Delhi
About Ministry of Minority Affairs (MoMA)
The Ministry of Minority Affairs (MoMA) is a government ministry in India established in 2006 to address the concerns and needs of minority communities.
Union Minister – Kiren Rijiju (Constituency: Arunachal West, Arunachal Pradesh, AR)
Minister of States(MoS) – George Kurian(Rajya Sabha -Madhya Pradesh, MP)
