By Abdul Bari Masoud, MM News,
New Delhi: Dr. Najma Heptulla, Union Minister for Minority Affairs, has urged the state minority commissions to monitor the implementation of various schemes run by the central government for the improvement of the minority communities in the country.
However, she and her junior minister did not utter a word on the growing insecurity among the minorities in the wake of recurring violent attacks on minority members by the communal forces who were got emboldened since the BJP came to power at the Center .
Inaugurating, the one day Annual Conference of the State Minorities Commissions here at Vigyan Bhavan here on Wednesday, Dr Najma focused her speech only development aspect of the minority while the security issue of minorities also in the mandate of the Ministry of Minority Affairs. She urged participants to be more responsible, vigilant and willing to evolve a system for State Centre cooperation and not competition.
“The spirit of cooperation and support in identifying areas in need of development and monitoring implementation of various schemes can immensely benefit all stakeholders”. She said that her ministry is focusing on empowering minorities through education and skill development and asked participants for supporting this endeavour.
Emphasizing the focus of the government being inclusive growth with motto “SabkaSaath,SabkaVikas”, Dr Najma said to discriminate means to deprive of development.
In a federal system, the Centre can plan and devise schemes but the implementation lies with the states, she further added. She urged the conference to discuss ways for monitoring the implementation of various schemes.
Disclosing that Haj pilgrimage is being transferred to the Ministry of Minority Affairs, Dr. Najma Heptulla said that in principle decision to this effect has been taken and modalities are to be worked out for its implementation.
Earlier in his welcome remarks, Naseem Ahmad, Chairman, National Commission for Minorities (NCM) said that though State Minorities Commissions( SMCs) work independently in their respective states but NCM feels that all are sister organizations working towards similar objectives. It is a platform for all stake holders to share and update themselves on issues relating to minorities.
In his valedictory address, Minister of state for Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi has also conveniently forgotten about mentioning the incidents of attack on minorities. Just two before, a Muslim police sub-inspector was brutally beaten up in Maharashtra by RSS-Shiv Sena mob and even his fraternity member could not muster support to rescue from the hooligans. Even the Maharashtra State Minority Commission did not raise the issue in the conference. When this correspondent asked, he said the state commission has sent a team to Latur to investigate the incident.
Naqvi said the development of every section of the society is “Rashtradharm” of the Government.
“Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas” is not a political slogan but it is a commitment to take light of development to all sections of the society”. And the contribution of minorities in nation building is “truth of history and reality of present,” he added.
The one day Conference focused on Development of Minorities which discussed development issues in two technical sessions. Praveen Davar, Member, NCM addressed the Technical I session on “Minority Welfare Schemes of Government of India-An Overview” while Technical II session on “Functioning of State Minorities Commissions-Problems and Challenges” was addressed by Ms. Mabel Rebello, another Member NCM.
It is to mention that the Conference is held every year on a theme which the NCM considers as relevant and important to the Minorities and the State Minorities Commissions, the State Governments particularly the Minority Welfare Departments and NGOs dealing with minority issues. The last Annual Conference held in 2015 was on the theme “Capacity building of Minority Educational Institutions in India” and “Corporate Social Responsibility and Development of Minorities in India”.