By TCN News,
New Delhi: The Annual Conference of State Minorities Commissions concluded here at Vigyan Bhawan on Friday 18th March with a number of recommendations for improving the lot of Minorities in the country. The Conference was organized by the National Commission for Minorities and was attended by State Minorities Commissions from across the country.
At the end of the Conference, Wajahat Habibullah, Chairperson of the National Commission for Minorities, presented the recommendations of the daylong Conference. These include recommendations on: i) education of Minorities; especially regarding scholarships; ii) Multi-sectoral Development Programme and financing of schemes; iii) Waqf properties; v) communal violence; vi) caste census; and vii) Prime Minister’s New 15–Point Programme for the welfare of Minorities.
Union Minister for Water Resources and Minority Affairs, Salman Khurshid delivering the keynote address at the Annual Conference of State Minorities Commissions, organized by the National Commission for Minorities, in New Delhi on March 18, 2011. L-R: Syeda Bilgrami Imam, Member, NCM, Mahesh Bhatt, noted film personality, Wajahat Habibullah, Chairperson, NCM, Vincent Pala, Minister of State for Water Resources and Minority Affairs [PIB Photo]
Other recommendations included issues such as repeal of the Bodh Gaya Temple Management Act; unavailability of land for qabristan in many places in Punjab and Christians facing difficulties in getting marriage certificates.
Habibullah and other Members of the Commission called upon the State Minorities Commissions to approach the National Commission for Minorities whenever they find that their persuasions are not bearing the desired fruits.
Noted film personality Mahesh Bhatt was the Chief Guest. Salman Khurshid, Minister of Minority Affairs, delivered the Keynote and the Valedictory addresses. Vincent H. Pala, Minister of State for Minority Affairs, made the opening remarks.
In his Valedictory Address Salman Khurshid appreciated the role played by the National Commission for Minorities and the State Minorities Commissions and clarified on many points that were raised during the Conference.
The Conference also had two dedicated Sessions: one on the ‘Review of implementation of Sachar Committee Report’; and the other on ‘Prime Minister’s 15 Point Programme and other issues related to welfare of Minorities’.