Muslims denied bank accounts..

Harry99
By Harry99

Saw this article and got curious. Is it because of poverty or discrimination ?

From the BBC:
State-owned banks in India have been accused of discriminating against the country's Muslim minority.

India's minorities watchdog has received a record number of complaints from Muslims who say they have been prevented from opening bank accounts.

India's Muslim community is among the poorest in the country.

Some bankers say it is not so much their religious background, but their economic status that makes it hard for Muslims to get banking facilities.

The National Commission of Minorities says that there has been a 100% increase in the number of complaints it has received over the past year from Muslims who say they are being prevented from opening accounts in state-run banks.

Reports say the worst case took place in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh, where some 90,000 Muslim students were unable to open accounts to deposit scholarship cheques given to them by the government.

Official reports frequently put Muslims at the bottom of India's social and economic ladder - even beneath than low-caste Hindus.

Their economic status means they are often excluded by private banks, which prefer more well-to-do clients.

Already a number of reports have suggested that India's Muslims fare poorly when it comes to getting access to quality education or employment opportunities.

This latest finding will add more pressure on a government which is seen as doing very little for the country's largest minority group.

Link: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-10718243

By drmana• 6 Aug 2010 18:07
drmana

Even charity asks for religion? :-((((

By britexpat• 6 Aug 2010 18:06
britexpat

You don't need an abaya.. The food is for all ... :O)

By edifis• 6 Aug 2010 18:03
edifis

But next time I will try the abaya trick for the Zakat Biriyani! I hope it works. Don't want to go hungry.

By anonymous• 6 Aug 2010 18:02
anonymous

Yes edifis, only had to cover my head, that's all. They all know I am a Hindu.

That food used to taste sooooooo good

By edifis• 6 Aug 2010 18:00
edifis

WK I often went to Gurdwaras to eat langar, but I never had to hide my Hindu identity and pretend to be a Sikh. But it's their custom to cover the head....so the kerchief on my head only!

By edifis• 6 Aug 2010 17:58
edifis

If a poor Hindu woman come without Abaya, won't she get the charity?

By anonymous• 6 Aug 2010 17:57
anonymous

We used to go to Gurudwaras to eat langar :P

By edifis• 6 Aug 2010 17:55
edifis

LOL, Hindus coming in Abaya to eat Biriyani!

By nikky_sayed• 6 Aug 2010 17:50
nikky_sayed

I'm an indian muslim from bombay never ever had any discrimination problem and about poorest community one can see, how much money indian muslims have at the time of ramadan when we give zakat or cherity to poor people.Many hindus come in abaaya and take the charity.And about bank account i've three accounts and even my family members have many accounts.

By petvet• 6 Aug 2010 17:49
petvet

this rubbish .

i agree with whyteknight

send me the detail my friends too are struggling to complete the targets

By anonymous• 6 Aug 2010 17:35
anonymous

Yeah bank get into trouble for giving out too many easy loans in the past and cause a world recession and now when they are being more careful, some want to complain!!

By anonymous• 6 Aug 2010 17:30
anonymous

Why will bank give loans to those who can't pay it back, lol.. They aren't charitable trusts.

By anonymous• 6 Aug 2010 17:28
anonymous

So the story really is, poor people denied bank accounts.... baised BBC always being pro-muslim

By edifis• 6 Aug 2010 15:35
edifis

This has nothing to do with religion.

By anonymous• 6 Aug 2010 15:34
anonymous

Private sector business decisions cannot be regulated by the government. If the Indian government is handing out scholarship cheques to Muslim students without favor then the government cannot be accused of official discrimination.

By anonymous• 6 Aug 2010 15:28
anonymous

They should approach the private banks on 29th and 30th of the month. With month ending pressure, sales guys will do anything to open that account :P

By anonymous• 6 Aug 2010 15:25
anonymous

I guess its because of people not having residence proof...irrespective of religion....

By Harry99• 6 Aug 2010 15:20
Harry99

This issue does exist.. Perhaps it has been blown up out of proportion, but as this article from a respected Indian paper supports this.

http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/article540507.ece

By anonymous• 6 Aug 2010 15:19
anonymous

i dont think so its right news

By tHe-sMasHer• 6 Aug 2010 15:15
tHe-sMasHer

smthng nt new...

By yv2r• 6 Aug 2010 15:14
Rating: 4/5
yv2r

At present it is UPA governament in power and they are supporting all Minorities irrespective of finacial condition,they are giving loans for all economically weak.This news is nonsense,

As rightly said by WK bankers are strugling to meet their targets and also as per Khatak may be during BJP government that is long back and not now.

By KHATTAK• 6 Aug 2010 15:09
KHATTAK

Read that a few days back but couldn't believe it.

By drmana• 6 Aug 2010 15:07
drmana

really???

By britexpat• 6 Aug 2010 14:59
britexpat

I thought it was about the UK :O)

I suppose a lot has to do with poverty, although I can't understand why a person can't just open an account even if they are earning below a certain threshold... Perhaps the banks think that it's not worth the "admin costs"..

Feel sorry for the students though..

By anonymous• 6 Aug 2010 14:57
anonymous

HAHAHA Who doesn't have a bank account, mail me their details. I got so many friends working in banks in India, all struggling to reach their targets. Within an hour you will have a bank account. poor, rich, minority, majority doesn't matter.

Looks to me like someone is creating a news where there is none.

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