By Dr. Syed Ahmed for TwoCircles.net,
Imphal: Manipur Muslim Welfare Organisation (MMWO) observed its third foundation day on December 7, 2013 at Manipur Press Club, Majorkhul, in Imphal.
The function was graced by Parliamentary Secretary for Minorities & OBCs (MOBC) Md. Amin Shah, Chairman of Hajj Committee, Manipur & MLA Md. Fajur Rahim and President of MMWO F.M. Abdullah Pathan as Chief Guest, Special Guest and President respectively. Advisor of All Manipur United Clubs’ Organization (AMUCO) K.T. Rahaman, Advisor of Pangal Students Organization (PSO) P.M. Hayatur Rahman, Retired Treasury Officer Md. Ahmed Ali, Former President of All Manipur Muslim Organizations’ Co-ordinating Committee (AMMOCOC) Keiruddin Shah, General Secretary of Muslim Advocates’ Legal Services Organisation (MALSO) Md. Rabi Khan, Principal of Ram Krishna Higher Secondary School Jawan Singh and Chief Advisor of MMWO Maulana Abdus Salam as attended as Guests of Honour.
Speaking on the occasion, Md. Fajur Rahim answered the queries raised by some of the speakers regarding the implementation of welfare schemes by the Wakf Board, Manipur. He said that the Government allocates a meagre amount for Board. A large proportion of the fund is spent on paying the salary of the official staff of the Board. As a result the Board faces financial crunch in taking up the different welfare schemes.
Md. Amin Shah also gave clarifications to some of the allegations made against the MOBC Department regarding the scholarship scheme. He appealed to the general public and civil society organisations not to mislead the public on the implementation of the schemes of MOBC Department without adequate information. They should properly discuss any issue with the concerned authority of the Department before making allegations in public. Speaking on the accusation of non-implementation of scholarship scheme by the MOBC Department, he said distribution of the scholarships to students has been delayed as many of the students fail to open their bank-accounts. The government is providing scholarships to twenty thousand OBC students of the state. As per the guidelines laid down by the government, all the scholarship payments have to be made through bank-accounts of the scholarship holders. As of now, only six thousand students, out of twenty thousand, have opened their bank-accounts.
The department also comes across irregularities in some of the list of students prepared and submitted by the school authorities. The officials of the MOBC Department are not misappropriating the scholarship fund. Our officials are working hard to disburse the amount of the scholarships to the genuine students through proper channels, he added.
Addressing the gathering, K.T. Rahaman said Manipur is a land inhabited by ethnic and religious communities. The state could not see peace and development if the different communities have narrow outlooks. It is time that we all come together keeping aside the differences, he added.
The function was attended by students, representatives of civil society organizations and Muslim leaders.