Centre released Rs 737 Cr for Minority Development: Rahman Khan

Bangalore, Dec 21 : The Ministry of Minority Affairs under its Minority Development Programme has approved projects worth Rs.1102.66 crore and released Rs.737 crore for various states during 2012-13 said Union Minister for Minority Affairs Shri K.Rahman Khan.The Minister stated this while addressing the inaugural session of Southern Regional Conference of NGo`s in Banglore on Saturday.

Speaking at the Conference of NGO`s organised by the National Minority Development and Finance Co-Operation of Union Ministry of Minority Affairs, he said that during the first year of 12th planning period, projects worth Rs.1109.74 crore have been approved and Rs.646.42 crore have been released for Minority Development Programmes. The total number of projects taken up under Minority Development Programme during 2012-13 include 14244 Indira Awas Yojna Houses, 2101 Additional class rooms,36 schools,151 Hostels,1885 Anganwadi`s, 14917 Drinking Water Facilities, 307 Health Centres,793 Toilets,41 ITI`s and 13 Polytechnics the minister added.

Under PM`s 15 points programme 11 ministries have introduced 24 programmes for minorities. Scholarship and Multi Sectoral Development Programme are important among them. Efforts have been made for educational empowerment of minorities through Pre-metric, Post -metric, Merit -cum-means based scholarships and Maulana Azad National Fellowships .In 2012-13 Rs.1360 crore has been released under scholarship schemes to support education of 72 lakh minority students, the minister added.

National Wakf Development Corporation has been set up to protect the property of Wakf Board. Encroachment of Wakf Board property will be considered seriously and encroachers will be punished stringently the minister said.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramayya said that the State Government has approved Rs 676 crore for the development of minorities in the state. Top priority will be given for the educational empowerment of minority students. Rs 10 crore has been approved for the scholarship programme of Jain students. 34 Hostels and Two new Morarji Desai schools will be opened soon.

Qamarul Islam, State Minister for Municipalities, Dheeraj kumar, Director, Ministry of Minority Affairs, Y P Singh, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Minority Affairs and Ali Ahmad Khan, Secretary, Central Wakf Board were present on the occasion. INN