Work on welfare schemes for minorities reviewed
Syed Shahezadi, a member of the National Commission for Minorities, chaired a meeting here yesterday to discuss the welfare programmes being implemented under the Prime Minister’s New 15-Point Programme for Minorities.
Shahezadi said the main objective of the Prime Minister’s New 15 Point Programme was to ensure the overall welfare of the minorities. “Efforts are being made to enhance educational opportunities for minorities, ensure an equitable share for them in economic activities and employment,” she added. Chief Secretary Prabodh Saxena, Additional Chief Secretary Onkar Chand Sharma and DGP Atul Verma attended the meeting.
She emphasised on improving the living conditions of the minorities through the existing and the new schemes. She said that enhanced credit support for self-empowerment was also being ensured under the programme and gave necessary directions to the officers.
The meeting was told that to promote Urdu in the state, the government had decided to start Urdu teaching as an optional subject from Class VI to VIII in select schools. Scholarships under the Pre-Matric Scholarship Scheme, merit-cum means scholarship scheme and Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme were also being implemented for students belonging to the minority communities.
The meeting was apprised that under the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM), 28 self-help groups (SHGs) had been formed for women from the minority communities and concerted efforts were being made to empower them economically. The Himachal Pradesh Minority Finance and Development Corporation had disbursed term loans of Rs 100.58 crore to 3,498 beneficiaries of the minority communities for self-employment.
Besides, educational loans of Rs 1.63 crore had also been given to 37 beneficiaries. Detailed information regarding the implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Programme, Skill Development Schemes and other programmes for the welfare of the minorities was tabled during the meeting.
The Chief Secretary provided detailed insights into various schemes and programmes being implemented in the state for the welfare of the minorities.
