By Mumtaz Alam Falahi, TwoCircles.net,
New Delhi: The sincerity of the Congress-led UPA government at the centre behind the formation of Sachar Committee and its report will be complete only when it ensures funds meant for minorities are fully and honestly spent; it is the gist of the speeches made at a conference on Minority Concentrated Districts (MCD) development plan and Muslim viewpoint in Delhi today.
Outlining the purpose of the conference, Maulana Fazlur Rahman Mujaddidi, director of Jamea-Tul-Hidaya, said a good portion of the funds allocated for multi-sectoral development of 90 MCDs across the country, should be spent on education. The centre should think about direct funding for minority concerning schemes and make the procedure easier. The conference will draw the attention of the government to these issues.
Sachar Committee says education is the main problem of the Muslim community but MCD schemes sent by state authorities have given more attention to sanitation and health, Maulana Mujaddidi said. Giving data about educational backwardness of Muslims in MCDs He said Rampur has about 50% Muslim population but of about 2000 schools there only 28 are Muslim schools. Kishanganj has about 78% Muslim population but of 1248 schools only one is Muslim school.
He demanded representation of Muslims, their Ulema and other sections in minority schemes.
Opening the conference which featured former Chief Justice of India A M Ahmadi, National Minority Commission Chairman Muhammad Shafi Qureshi, Delhi Minority Commission Chairman Kamal Farooqui, veteran Congress leader and former union minister Salman Khursheed said scholarship schemes launched in the light of the Sachar Committee have not been fully successful as some states returned funds. He said that several states are not helping the centre in minority schemes. He also supported direct funding from the centre.
Leading figure behind the conference and director of Rahmani Foundation Maulana Muhammad Wali Rahmani came down heavily on red-tapism and bureaucratic complexity coming in the way of minority schemes, and said UPA government should not become hostage in the hands of officers. He said MCD schemes should focus on education.
Suggesting an education scheme for MCD he said there should be two residential schools up to Std XIIth for boys and girls separately accommodating 2000 boarders and 3000 day scholars in each MCD. Besides, there should be an ITI for 1000 students and one polytechnic institute also for 1000 students in every MCD.
He criticized the UPA government that central government’s schemes for minorities are being implemented through state governments, and so they are not successful.
There are 13 departments of the central government including UGC, CBSE, ST & SC Commission and Maulana Azad Education Foundation, that do direct funding for projects in states. The MCD projects should also be implemented directly, he said.