Functions

  • Evaluation of the progress of the development of minoritiesunder the Union and States.
  • Monitoring of the working of the safeguards for minoritiesprovided in the Constitution and in laws enacted by Parliament and the state legislatures.
  • Ensures that the Prime Minister’s 15-Point Programme for the Welfare of Minoritiesis implemented and the programmes for minority communities are actually functioning.
  • Making recommendationsfor the effective implementation of safeguards for the protection of the interests of minorities by the central or state governments.
  • Looking into specific complaintsregarding deprivation of rights and safeguards of minorities and taking up such matters with the appropriate authorities.
  • Investigates matters of communal conflict and riots.
  • For example, the 2011 Bharatpur communal riots, as well as the 2012 Bodo-Muslim clashes in Assam, were investigated by the commission and their findings were submitted to the government.
  • Observes the Minorities Rights Dayevery year on 18th December which marks the adoption of the “Declaration on the Rights of Persons belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities” by the United Nations in