Nagpur, Mar. 4: The Students Islamic Organisation of India (SIO) unveiled Students Manifesto at Tilak Patrakar Bhavan here Saturday, aiming at tackling critical issues affecting education, minorities, and societal well-being. Salman Mobin Khan, SIO General Secretary f, along with Sayyad Ziaur-Rahman, President SIO Maharashtra North, Muzammil Khan (Zonal Secretary, SIO MNZ), Dr. Mohammad Zulqarnain (Joint Secretary, SIO MNZ), and M. Saifulislam (Joint Secretary, SIO MNZ) were part of SIO leadership addressing the media and sharing details of the manifesto.
The Students Manifesto comprises pressing demands that SIO aims to prioritize in the 2024 parliamentary election. It highlights the following areas:
- Equitable Reservation: Advocating for a fair and just reservation system to ensure opportunities for all.
- Special Attention to Socio-economic Backward Districts: Focusing on the upliftment of marginalized regions for balanced development.
- Enactment of the Rohit Act: Ensuring justice and safety of students.
- Reinstate MANF and Enhance Scholarships for Minorities: Supporting minority students financially for equal access to education.
- Anti-Discrimination Law: Striving for a society free from discrimination and bias.
- Stringent Personal Data Protection Law and a Privacy Charter: Safeguarding privacy and data of individuals.
- Environment and Sustainability Funds – 1000 Cr: Dedication to environmental initiatives and sustainable practices.
- Health and Mental Wellness Centers for Youth Across India: Prioritizing the holistic well-being of youth.
- Ensure Free and Compulsory Education from Elementary to University Levels: A commitment to accessible education for all.
- Employment Guarantee Act for Youth: Paving the way for job security and opportunities for youth.
- Establishment of Maulana Azad Research And Technical Institute (MARTI) for Muslim students of Maharashtra.
During the press conference, the SIO leadership discussed the alarming trends in India’s education landscape. Despite an overall literacy rate of 74.04%, falling below the world average of 86.3%, many states barely surpassed the national level.
Salman Mobin Khan expressed concern over the Centre discontinuing key educational schemes for religious minorities, narrowing the scope of others, and reducing expenditure on programs under the Ministry of Minority Affairs. He highlighted reduction in education budget share to 2.9% of GDP, far below the 6% target set by NEP2020.
He invited attention to the stark contrast between India’s 2.1% of GDP allocation and countries like Japan, Canada, and France, allocating approximately 10% to public healthcare.
Addressing the alarming dropout rates among Muslim students, Mr. Khan emphasized that the Institute of Objective Studies reported a 23.1% dropout rate, surpassing the national average of 18.96%. The enrollment of Muslim students dropped from 5.5% in 2019-20 to 4.6% in the academic year 2020-21. He also shed light on the erosion of academic freedom, as reflected in India’s position in the bottom 30% among 179 countries in the academic freedom index prepared by the V-Dem Institute.
He expressed deep concern over the mental health crisis, citing the NCRB data reporting suicide as the leading cause of death among people aged 15 to 30, with an average of 34 students taking their lives every 42 minutes.
Sayyed Ziaur-Rahman drew attention to the exponential rise in hate crimes, citing Amnesty International and the DOTO Database calling for immediate attention to protect lives and combat religious discrimination.
He said students and youth were the largest constituency of this country, and political parties must specially cater to their needs when seeking votes. He added that the manifesto is asking political parties to invest in the country’s future. He stressed that students and youth would not be mollified by empty promises or distracted by divisive political agendas. Instead, they strongly demand solid election manifestos that guarantee accessible and quality education, employment, peace, and a safe environment.
