Government reports decline in recruitment of minorities to central forces

NEW DELHI: The representation of minority communities in recruitment to paramilitary forces registered a decline over a four-year period till 2011, the government told Parliament today.

According to statistics cited by Minister of State for Home Haribhai Parthibai Chaudhary in a written reply in Lok Sabha, the overall representation of minorities in 2008 was 62.63 per cent in these forces but came down to 57.62 per cent in 2009.

Their proportion further went down to 52.55 per cent in 2010 and 29.18 per cent in 2011.

The recruitments pertain to paramilitary forces like Border Security Force, Central Reserve Police Force, Central Industrial Security Force, Indo-Tibetan Border Police, Sashastra Seema Bal and Assam Rifles.

The maximum representation of minority communities in recruitment to these forces was in 2006, when it touched 66.11 per cent.

The percentage declined in 2007 to 48.83 per cent but rose again to 62.63 per cent in 2008.

Chaudhary said there was no proposal regarding steps to be taken to increase the representation of minorities in recruitment to these forces, which function under the Union Home Ministry.