Hyderabad: Growing economic discrimination, social inequality, security concerns and a steep fall in political representation are among the major challenges members of the Muslim community are facing in India, a study has found.

The problems have further worsened over the last four years since the Narendra Modi-led BJP came to power in the country, according to a new study by a group of economists and social scientists.

The four-year study, undertaken to prepare a “Vision 2025” for Indian Muslims, was led by development economist Amirullah Khan and released by the renowned constitutional expert and legal luminary, A.G. Noorani, in Hyderabad.

Sharing the findings of the study at a gathering of intellectuals in Hyderabad on Saturday Amirullah Khan said, apart from assessing the situation that emerged over the last four years and current status of Muslims, the study has also looked at what could happen next and what challenges the Muslim minority are likely to face over the next ten years.

‘Worst fears’ come true

He said the worst fears expressed at the time Narendra Modi came to power in the 2014 polls have come true and the problems of the Muslim community have worsened.

“If India is going to become an economic super power it should tackle the issue of discrimination as it can cut down the economic benefits by 30 per cent”, he said. “The disruption of the social fabric of the country will have not only political and social but economic effects”.

The study, to which many researchers have contributed, has found that Muslims in urban areas of India are poorer than the scheduled castes and tribes; while in rural areas Muslims are better off than the other marginalised sections.

“The bigger the cities, the poorer Muslims are,” he said.

In 60 cities of more than one million, members of the Muslim community were the poorest.

Saying India was the slowest urbanising country in the world, the study revealed that urban migration among Muslims were at their lowest.

While 38 per cent of Muslims lived in urban areas, 62 per cent were in rural areas.

Khan said the fear of lack of security, as well as discrimination in education, employment and housing could be deterring many Muslims from moving to the cities.

The study also denounced as propaganda claims that the growth of Muslim population in the county was faster than in Hindu community.

With the exception of Bihar the fertility rate among Muslims was falling faster than other communities, it said.

“There is no possibility of Muslims over taking Hindu population even after 600 years”, he said.

The study also found that, among all the castes, it was Other Backward classes, not the upper caste who were doing well.

On the educational front the study noted an alarming phenomena in Uttar Pradesh where literacy among Muslims was declining and more boys than girls were dropping out from schools at much younger age. “Muslim boys are dropping out of schools two years earlier than other boys”, he said.

On falling political representation of Muslims Prof Amirullah Khan said that a distancing from Muslims was taking place.

“After 2014 even Congress started distancing itself from the minority committee fearing that it was seen as a Muslim party”, he said.

On the other hand for the first time after independence not a single Muslim was elected to Parliament from Uttar Pradesh.

“BJP ensured that no Muslim was elected,” he said.

He said when people were asked during the study whether Muslims need political representation the answer was resounding yes. But on who should represent Muslims 60 per cent Muslims said it does not matter whether Muslims or any body else represents them while 60 per cent Hindus said that Muslims should represent them.

On the issue of employment Amirullah Khan said it was the biggest challenge the country and a secular problem affecting all. “Last year only 135,000 jobs were created in the country and Muslims would have got even fewer jobs,” he said.

Taking part in a panel discussion Sheela Prasad, professor and head, Centre for regional studies, University of Hyderabad said that the Indian cities were facing complete residential segregation with different communities in different ghettos.

“In Delhi even a rich Muslim finds it difficult to get a house in a Hindu area”, she said. As most of the Muslims were dependent on rented housing they were the worst sufferers. “Mixed neighbourhoods were our strength but we have lost it,” she said.

Irfan Engineer, director, Institute for Peace Studies and Conflict resolution said that the growing violence and demonisation was among the major concerns of the Muslims.

“The pattern of violence has changed from major riots to low scale violence in the forms of lynching”, he said.

Noorani urged Muslims to build bridges and mobilise secular Hindus and Dalits, NGOs, cooperative moments, students and women organisations.

“Our case should come in media with documentation”, he said. Noorani rued that Muslims neglected the international avenues and organisations like Amnesty and Human Rights Council.