By TwoCircles.net special correspondent,
Lucknow: Political parties may be vying each other for muslim votes.However these lofty claims vanish in thin air for implementing the schemes meant for their development.
The case in point is the centre sponsered multi sectoral development projects in the state. A fund of nearly 100 crores rupees is gathering dust at the state minority welfare office. The funds are meant for development in the muslims dominated districts of the state.
To upgrade the social and economic status of the muslims central government initiated the multi sectoral development projects in 90 muslim dominated districts of the country. Uttar Pradesh too got its
share with 21 districts being identified as muslim dominated. Several development projects were to be implemented in these districts for the benefit of muslim population. The development projects included
schools, inter colleges, upgrading of madarsas with computerisation, construction of health centres in muslim dominated villages for providing health care, anganwadi centres in these villages for the benefit of minorities and any other development project which yielded a permanent benefit to the minorities.
Union government released the first instalments of funds in 2009 as per the projects submitted by the minority welfare department. “We gave a detailed presentation to the union government officials in
Delhi for the scheme. Several of our projects were approved and funds were sanctioned,” said a senior minority welfare department official.
However, presently more than Rs 100 crores in lying unutilised with the department. The reason given by the office staff is that construction agency for these projects has not been finalised. “The decision for the construction agency which will be construct these projects has not been finalised. The file has been sent several times to the minster but it has not been approved,” said a senior official of the
department.
Commenting on the issue, Director, Minority Welfare, Shaahbuddin stated that funds will be released soon. “It is a routine thing and file movement takes time. Things are in pipeline and funds will be sent to district level soon,” he said.
However as per the records of the department, the fund of over Rs 100 crore was received in January. However it was not released by the department citing financial closure. Now even after one month has
passed there is no news for releasing the funds.