There is no dearth of schemes, funds for development of Muslim and other Minority communities

NEW DELHI (INDIA): The Minister of State for Minority Affairs (Independent Charge) & Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said that clean, honest and transparent system has been resulted into socio-economic-educational empowerment of poor, weaker sections, Minorities on the ground level.nnNaqvi emphasized that only preparing policies and schemes on paper is not sufficient. It is to be ensured that these schemes, aimed at welfare of the needy, are producing results on the ground. The Ministry should go to the people, listen to their problems and resolve them. Then only, the fruits of development will reach even to the last person of the society.nnThis was said by the Minister of State while addressing ?Progress Panchayat? today at village Jagatpur Patti, Shyamnagar and Government Girls Inter College, Jaspur in Uddham Singh Nagar (Uttarakhand).nnThe Minister informed that after assuming charge of the Ministry of Minority Affairs, in the very first meeting with officials, It was made clear that results of schemes and programmes should be visible at grass root level. The welfare schemes should not remain on paper but they should be converted into a reality. The officials should visit villages to ensure benefits of welfare schemes are reaching to every needy person.nnShri Naqvi said that there is no dearth of schemes and funds for development of Muslim and other Minority communities. We only need to inform the people about these welfare measures and we have already launched a campaign on war-footing. ?Progress Panchayat? will proved to be an effective mission for this purpose.nnInforming the people about schemes of the Minority Affairs Ministry, Shri Naqvi said that schemes such as ?Seekho aur Kamao?, ?Nai Manzil?, ?Nai Raushni?, ?Ustaad?, ?Nai Udaan? are guarantee of empowerment of poor belonging to Minority communities. Besides, ?Pradhanmantri Jan Vikas Karykram? (MsDP) has been providing basic amenities such as school, hospitals, roads and other infrastructure in Minority concentrated areas. Employment oriented schemes are our priority. ?Employment to every hand? is our commitment.nnNaqvi said that Minority Affairs Ministry has been working on different strategies for welfare of Muslim community which include protection and development of waqf properties; efforts to free the waqf properties from the clutches of “waqf mafias” across the country and establishing a one-man ?Board of Adjudication? at the Centre level to deal with complaints regarding waqf properties.nnThe Board will be headed by a retired Supreme Court Justice. Three-member tribunals are being established in the states. About 15-16 states have established these tribunals. Other states should also do this soon.nnNaqvi said that the Minority Affairs Ministry, in cooperation with the state governments, will construct 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” will also be constructed on waqf land which will be utilized for marriage ceremonies, exhibitions and also relief centres during a calamity.nnNaqvi said that for Uttrakhand, under MsDP, various projects had been approved during 2014-15 including 3 Degree Colleges, 5 School Buildings, 2 Hostels, 5 ITIs and 6 Health Centres. Crores of rupees have been released for various development projects under MsDP in the state during 2015-16. Under ?Seekho Aur Kamao? (Learn and Earn) schemes, about 2200 people had been provided training from 2014. Under ?Nai Raushni? scheme, 3300 people had been provided job-oriented training.nnNaqvi said that the Ministry of Minority Affairs has also taken initiative to preserve, protect and promote ancient art, culture of the Minority communities under ?Usttad? scheme. Artisans belonging to Minority Communities from across the country?s far-flung corners will display their traditional arts and skills at India International Trade Fair (IITF), to be organised from 14th November, 2016 at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi. This will provide an excellent platform to thousands of artisans belonging to Minority communities from across the nation to display their arts and skills before the domestic and international visitors.nnNaqvi said that the exhibition ?Hunar Haat? (Skill Haat), will be an amazing gathering of artisans from every corner of the country. It will be for the first time that these talented artisans/craftsmen from far-flung areas of the country are being provided an opportunity to showcase their skills at national-international level under one roof.nnDuring his Jaspur visit, Naqvi inspected/laid foundation stone of Government Girls Degree College, laid foundation stone of 50 bed hostel at Rudrapur and inaugurated JIT Skill Training Centre.nn***