Fresh consultation needed on Equal Opportunity Commission:Govt

Government today said consultation is needed afresh on setting up of the Equal Opportunity Commission to address the concerns of the deprived minority groups.
As divergent views have been received from various ministries, further examination is needed with the Law Ministry, Minister of State for Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said.
In a written reply in Rajya Sabha, he said the "matter needs consultation afresh as per the extent instructions."
Setting up of the commission was one of the recommendations of the Sachar Committee. Based on an expert group report and recommendations of a group of ministers during the UPA regime, the draft Equal Opportunity Commission Bill, 2013 was approved in February last year for placing the bill before Parliament.

In the meantime, with the formation of the new government at the Centre, this matter needs consultation afresh, the Minister said.
However, the Department of Personnel and Training in July 2007 had issued guidelines to all the appointing authorities for giving "special consideration" to minorities for recruitment in government, public sector undertakings etc, the Minister said.
The commission is proposed to be a statutory body to check discrimination of minority communities in jobs and education. It is also proposed deal with grievances like denial of accommodation or buying rights to minorities in housing societies.