New Delhi: The Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Minority Affairs & Parliamentary Affairs, Shri Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi has said that India’s cultural and social harmony is the “password of progress”. Development in the country cannot be ensured without ensuring cultural and social harmony. Shri Naqvi stated it while inaugurating the Annual Conference of State Minorities Commissions at Vigyan Bhawan here today.
The Minister said that the centre is committed to strengthen the social and communal harmony in the country. Shri Naqvi said that the Modi Government has been moving forward with commitment to bring happiness in eyes and prosperity in life of every poor person. Central Government has created an atmosphere where Minorities are also becoming a part of development process in the country.
Shri Naqvi said that “inclusive growth” is the commitment and development of the poor is the target of the Central Government. Minority Affairs Ministry has started several welfare schemes for socio-economic-educational empowerment of Minorities which has ensured that Minorities have been moving forward on the path of development. He further stated that “PM’s new 15-point programme”, “Nai Manzil”, “Nai Raushni”, “Seekho aur Kamao”, “Ustaad”, “Pre-metric and Post-metric scholarships” have benefitted all the Minorities. Besides, other Central Government schemes such as “Make in India”, “Skill India”, “Start up India” have also benefitted the Minorities equally.
Shri Naqvi said that the Minority Affairs Ministry, in cooperation with the state governments, is constructing schools, colleges, malls, hospitals, skill development centres etc and revenue generated will be utilized for educational and other developmental activities for the Muslim community. Multi-purpose community centres “Sadbhav Mandap” are also being constructed on waqf land which will be utilized for marriage ceremonies, exhibitions and also relief centres during a calamity.
He said that the Ministry of Minority Affairs will establish 5 world class educational institutions to provide better traditional and modern education to students belonging to Minority communities. A high-level committee has been constituted for this purpose. The committee is working on a roadmap including places where these institutes will be established. We are working on a strategy so that these institutes can get started in 2018. We have proposed 40 per cent reservation for girls in these institutions. It has been decided to start “Begam Hajrat Mahal Girls Scholarship” and “Garib Nawaz Skill Development Centre” across the country.
Shri Naqvi said that making Haj application process completely digital; launch of Haj mobile app and “cashless chaupal” are among our measures for welfare of Minorities. Centre has also approved about 200 “Sadbhav Mandap” and 16 “Gurukul” type of schools with a cost of about Rs 262 crore. The Minister informed that welfare schemes-programmes of the Ministry of Minority Affairs have been made “100 per cent digital” which has ensured transparency in these schemes.
Speaking on the occasion, Chairman, National Minority Commission, Shri Naseem Ahmad said that during the fiscal year, by the end of December 2016, National Minority Commission (NMC) had received 1288 petitions from all over the country, including a balance of 107 pending of the previous year, of which only 82 petitions were pending disposal during the period. He said that NMC Members regularly visit their allotted states to hear the grievances of minority communities and to monitor the implementation of various minority welfare schemes. Their tour reports are considered by the full Commission and the recommendations emerging therefrom are sent to the concerned authorities for remedial action.
