By Zaidul Haque, TwoCircles.net,
Kolkata: West Bengal Government has been allocated Rs 1737 crore in the state Budget of 2014-15, for the development of the minorities presented by State Finance Minister Amit Mitra at West Bengal Assembly on 17 February, 2014.
In an election year the government has doubled the amount allocated to the Minority Affairs and Madrasa Education Department, last year it was Rs 859 Crore.
Finance Minister of WB Amit Mitra during his budget speech in the Assembly. WB CM Mamata Banerjee also in the frame.
This is one of biggest budget ever allocated in any state for the development of the minorities. Muslims comprises of 25.2% of total population. The budget allocated is little less than half of the amount allocated to the minorities in the Union interim budget. Yesertday Finacne Minister P Chidambaram allocated Rs 3711 Crore for the welfare of the minorities.
In 151 blocks of 15 districts with minority concentration, projects worth Rs.550 crore have been taken up, with a total plan size of Rs.1,100.70 crore for the development of the minority communities.
18 Minority Bhawan will be set up in different district for the implementation of the development works for the minorities. Simultaneously at least 109 marketing hub would be constructed for the in minorities concentrated areas.
State government will also set up more Urdu medium schools in areas with concentration of Urdu speaking people in the state. It should be noted that before the elections, Mamata Banerjee had announced that in areas where at least at least 10 percent of people are Urdu speaking, Urdu would be made the second language for official purposes.
State Finance Minister Amit Mitra said that to help ease the hurdles of Hajj pilgrims, third Haj House is under construction in New Town at a cost of Rs.96.40 crore. Two Hajj houses already exist one at Park Circus named `Baitul Hujjaj’ and another at Kazi Nazrul Islam Avenue near Kolkata Airport named `Haj Tower’.
Minister also informed that the new campus of Aliah University is under construction at a cost of Rs.298 crore.
State Finance Minister Amit Mitra also mentioned the progress of the works to development of the minorities in West Bengal. He described in the budget speech that, during 2013-14, 22 lakh minority students were provided pre-matric and post-matric scholarships taking the figure to 57 lakh students since May, 2011.
Educational incentives have been provided to 1,16,499 girl students of Class IX to XII. In 2013-14, 34,150 minority beneficiaries have been provided housing at a cost of Rs. 441 Crore.
Since May 2011, 1400 graveyards at a cost of Rs. 66 crores have fenced for protection. In 2013-14, 34,150 minority beneficiaries have been provided housing at a cost of Rs. 441 Crore.
The special initiatives of the state government for the upliftment of the minority community enlisted in the budget speech of the Finance Minister.
In his budget speech, he also said, skill development has been initiated for boys and girls belonging to the minority community to prepare them for employment. Already 61,918 minority youth have been trained by the Aliah University in collaboration with Minorities Development and Finance Corporation and many of them have got employment.
Since May, 2011, around 2 lakh minority boys and girls have been trained by this Corporation for employment in police and teaching institutions. During this time, through various credit linked schemes of the Corporation, 2,50,667 minority girls and boys have been self-employed.
Since becoming the CM, Mamta Banerjee has kept the Minority Affairs and Madrasa Education Department with herself.