EMN
Dimapur, April 5
Nagaland is one of the representing states at a national conference for ministers and secretaries of Minority Welfare which began in New Delhi on Tuesday. Telangana, Gujarat, Bihar, Haryana, Chhattisgarh, Sikkim, Nagaland and Mizoram are the states represented by ministers at the event.
The states and union territories have indispensable role in the implementation of minority welfare schemes as they are stakeholders in taking the benefits to the marginalized groups, the delegates were told.
Dr. Najma Heptulla, the Union Minister for Minority Affairs, inaugurated the National Conference of Ministers and Secretaries of Minority Welfare. Expressing concern at the “consistent absence of ministers from certain states,” the union minister said that the platform called for cooperation from all.
Invoking a quote from the prime minister, she said that it was a fight against poverty and ‘not against each other.’ Recognizing the need for continuous suggestions and acknowledging the ‘different sets’ of problems faced by the states and union territories, Dr. Najma Heptulla said that the website of the Ministry of Minority Affairs will soon provide a window for suggestions from the states. She urged the participants to monitor the implementation of schemes at the ground level and furnish completion and utilization certificates in time to enable the centre to release funds. The union minister also said that the centre wants to develop Waqf properties across the country to enhance the revenue of states/union territories for minority welfare activities. She has expressed expectation for cooperation in said effort.
The ministry’s emphasis is on education as all deficits flow from educational deficit, the minister said further. Education being the basis of development, focus is to equip minority youth with formal education as well as skill development. The ministry awards about 86 lakh Scholarships for pre-matric, post-matric and merit-cum-means scholarship all over India. Of these, 30% scholarships are earmarked for girls, however, coverage of girls is more than 46%.Focussing on women, and entrepreneurship program is supported by the NMFDC, the minister informed.
Earlier, welcoming the participants Rakesh Garg, secretary to the Ministry of Minority Affairs said that the timing of the conference was “appropriate to discuss and devise strategies for implementation of various schemes.” This is the first time that revised budget estimate has not been reduced and all funds have been used in last financial year, he said. The centre and the states need to work as a team to ensure timely and proper utilization of this year’s budget as well, Garg said.
The Ministers in-charge of Minority Affairs of the states and the secretaries looking after the Minority Welfare departments of states are attending the conference. The representatives of Union Territory administrations are also participating. The states being represented by the ministers include Telangana, Gujarat, Bihar, Haryana, Chhattisgarh, Sikkim, Nagaland and Mizoram.
This is the first national conference of ministers and secretaries of Minority Affairs of the state governments and Union Territories. The conference is to review all the schemes of the Ministry of Minority Affairs and issues related to their implementation. Information on various schemes and programmes of the Ministry of Minority Affairs for the welfare of minorities will be given during the technical sessions of the conference.
The purpose of this conference is that the outreach of the various schemes for the welfare of minorities reaches to every nook and corner of the country. It is expected that this conference would help in better coordination and strengthening the partnership of the states and union territories with the central government in the implementation of the various welfare schemes for the minorities.
