Union Cabinet approved the setting up Equal Opportunities Commission

Union Cabinet approved the setting up of an Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) on 20 February 2014. The proposal for EOC was made by the Union Ministry of Minority Affairs on the recommendations of the Justice Sachar Committee on Social, Economic and Educational Status of Muslim Community in India.

The Equal Opportunities Commission will address the grievances of people from the minority communities when minorities are discriminated against by government agencies. Its role is advisory in nature and will have no jurisdiction over private agencies.

EOC is a three-member body and will be headed by a retired judge of the High Court.  It will not have any powers to impose penalties.

About Sanchar Committee

• Justice Sachar Committee on the social, economic and educational status of the Muslim community of India was formed in March 2005.
• The Committee in its report submitted in 2006 noted that though Muslims constituted 18.5 percent of the population and their representation in bureaucracy was just about 2.5 percent.
• The Sachar Committee held that mechanisms like the National Commission for Minorities and the National Human Rights Commission cannot look into day-to-day complaints against non-state agencies. So Sachar Committee recommended for an Equal Opportunity Commission (EOC).
• Sachar Committee recommended EOC for all people.