By TwoCircles.net staff reporter
Mumbai: The Maharashtra government will offer scholarships to 36,000 secondary school students who belong to the minority community. About 75% fund for the scholarships will be provided by the Centre and remaining by the state government.
Chief Minister of Maharashtra Vilasrao Deshmukh announced this in a meeting held to review the implementation of the Prime Minister’s 15-point programme for the minorities.
Deshmukh directed the officials concerned to provide more facilities to Urdu schools, like additional classrooms and toilets. He also promised to set up hostels for girls in Thane, Nasik and Aurangabad districts.
He further said that the Maulana Azad Economic Development Corporation working for economic uplift of the minorities will be given Rs 50 crore by the state government. The corporation will be allocated land in various districts to start the self-help groups, he said.
He emphasized on education, employment, pre-job training and houses for the minorities in the state.
He has directed the state education department to make Marathi a compulsory subject in Urdu medium schools.
“Marathi is the official language of the state and it should be taught in Urdu schools. The State Government will soon prepare a proposal and send to all Urdu schools,” he said.