By Abdul Hameed, TwoCircles.net,
Mumbai: The state government issued on February 6 an ordinance for implementation of the eight schemes recently approved for the welfare and social and economic uplift of minorities.
Minister of Minority Affairs Haji Anees Ahmad told media that the ordinance has been issued to implement the eight schemes and by Monday the advertisements in this effect will be published in every newspaper for public information.
Maharashtra state government had announced on 20th January to spend Rs 110 crore by March for the social, economic and educational development of the minorities under eight different schemes such as free uniform for certain minority students, two-rupees daily encouragement allowance for parents of the students, better infrastructure for minority-dominated areas, vocational courses to ensure jobs and setting up helpline for providing information about the schemes etc.
The ordinance states that minority students doing professional courses such as engineering, medical, architect and MBA courses will be given scholarship of Rs 25,000 each provided they have taken admission in 2008-09 and they have not been given scholarship form centre on the basis of their ability.
Haji Anees Ahmad said that the schemes prepared for minorities concentrate more on the education. He also added that the government was serious to remove the social, economic and educational backwardness of minorities and for the first time the work has been done so fast in this regard. However, people are concerned how the government will be able to spend the sum within few remaining days.