Malda gears up for welfare of minority commuinity

Statesman News Service

MALDA, April 10: Based on Sachar committee recommendations for Indian Muslims, the Centre has instructed the state government to expedite Prime Minister’s 15-point programme in all the districts. The Malda district administration today convened a meeting, for the first time, to form a district committee to implement the PM’s 15-point programme, officials said. State chief secretary Mr Amit Kiran Deb has instructed the Malda district authorities to form the committee for this new project, said Mr Abdul Khaleque, the Malda additional district magistrate, who has been selected as the director of the minority development and welfare committee. “Henceforth selection panel will comprise a member from minority community for the appointment. If more than 10 persons are to be appointed from minority community, it is imperative to include a minority member in the selection panel”, Mr Khaleque, said.It was further decided that 15 per cent of the funds for any developmental project would be spent especially for an area where the minority people share at least 25 per cent of population. Officials said that the state government has decentralized the minorities directorate, dividing it in two parts ~ Madrassa Education Directorate and Directorate of Minority Development and Welfare. The PM’s 15-point programme include setting up educational centres of Sarba Siksha Avijan, Kasturba Gandhi Schools and ICDS in the minority dominated areas. Apart from modernisation of Madrassa Education, the programme aims at developing Urdu education.This programme stresses on the requirements of minority people in railways, army, banking and other sectors, officials said. A portion of the funds in the schemes such as Swarna Jayanti Swarojgar Yojana or Indira Awas Yojana would be shared by the minorities. Apart from the technical education, minority students would also get bank loans on priority basis. It may be recalled that more than 50 per cent people belong to minority community in Malda and Murshidabad districts. The minority dominated blocks, such as Chanchal, Kaliachak and Ratua, would be taken special care of, officials said.