Samajwadi Party MLA Rais Shaikh has urged Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar to revive a long-pending socio-economic and educational survey of the Muslim community. In a letter to Pawar, Shaikh says the survey has been stalled for more than a decade and argues that the state lacks comprehensive, up-to-date data. He notes that since the 2006 Sachar Committee Report, no full study of Muslims’ socio-economic and educational status has been conducted.
Shaikh proposes setting up a study group to drive the exercise and suggests it be named after the late Ajit (Ajit Dada) Pawar, citing the former leader’s past support for issues related to the community. He also refers to earlier government steps, including a Dr Mehmood ur Rahman Study Group formed in 2013 and a 2022 government resolution that tasked the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) with the survey, which he says was not carried out after a change in government.
According to Shaikh, detailed findings would help assess living standards, access to financial assistance, welfare scheme delivery, infrastructure, education, and healthcare, enabling region-specific policy measures.