Minorities’ panel vice-chief reviews welfare works done

Our Correspondent

Kullu, November 28

Atif Rasheed, vice-chairperson of the National Commission for Minorities, presided over a review meeting of the PM’s 15-point programme for the welfare of minorities here today. He said the government had implemented several schemes for the socio-economic development of the minority communities. He added that it was the responsibility of various departments to implement these schemes properly so that eligible persons get timely and appropriate benefits.

The vice-chairperson said the process of issuing certificates for minorities should be simplified. He said according to the 2011 census in Kullu district, the total population of the minority community is 20,648, which is 4.71 per cent of the total population. These include 15,377 Buddhists, 2,974 Muslims, 1,396 Sikhs, 807 Christians and 94 Jains.

Rasheed said the children and women belonging to minority sections were being provided benefits under the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme. In this, pre-school education, nutritional supplements, vaccination and other services are being provided to children up to the age of six years. Children from minority communities are attending school with other children, he added. The vice-chairperson said meritorious students of the minority communities were being provided pre-matric and post-matric scholarships. Employment is being provided to masses of minorities through the NLRM, MNREGA and the NULM.

Rasheed said girl students of the minority communities should be included in the Begum Hazrat Mahal National Scholarship Scheme. He said a scholarship of Rs 5,000 and Rs 6,000 is provided to girls securing above 50 per cent marks in Class VIII. He insisted on starting its registration in the district.

The vice-chairman said there is no case of communal incident in the district.