By TwoCircles.net staff reporter
Kanpur: As the Union budget 2008-09 allocations for minority schemes are not enough to implement the Sachar Committee Report, the Movement for Muslim Empowerment (MME) has decided to launch a public awareness campaign in this connection.
To press their demand, MME has decided to meet with Congress Party president Sonia Gandhi and party general secretary Rahul Gandhi. The organization will demand to expedite implementation of the report and other welfare and development schemes for minorities.
Leaders of the organization point out that rupees 1000 crore set for betterment of educational, economic and social condition of 20 crore-strong Muslim minority in the union budget is quite insufficient because it turns out to be rupees 50 per head whereas rupees 2400 crore have been earmarked for the welfare of those sections of the society who have been benefiting from all government facilities for 60 years and thereby making gradual progress. The government has decided to grant post-matric scholarships to 30,30,000 SC/St students and 10,00,000 backward class students besides 9,00,000 pre-matric backward class students. For these scholarships Rs 480 crore has been allocated.
MME general secretary Dr. Ishrat Siddiqui said prime minister’s 15-point program is in force since 2006 and Sachar Committee recommendations are being implemented since 2007 but how many Muslims benefited from it is yet to be seen. MEM demanded constitution of supervisory committees at all levels from the center to the districts and blocks, to oversee the progress of implementation of the schemes for minorities.