By Rehan Ansari, TwoCircles.net,
Mumbai: After 5 years of controversies, Maharashtra Urdu academy awards were finally distributed on Monday in Y.B.Chavan Hall, Mumbai. 114 awards in 11 categories including, poetry, drama, journalism, research and literature were distributed.
Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Prithviraj Chavan took his time out from the first day of his first budget session and repeated the promise of Congress-NCP government to build 3 Urdu Ghar, Haj house, Scholarships, Maulana Azad Funds and increase allocation in budget for the minorities in the state.
L-R: Arif Nasim Khan, Minister of Minority Affair, Prithviraj Chavan, Chief Minister, Fauzia Tasnim Khan, MoS for Minority, Maharashtra in award function of Urdu Sahitya Academy
Accepting that Urdu is the second language in Maharashtra and is the mother tongue in Marathwada region of the state, he said, “Urdu is the language of our nation and it should be promoted.” He also urged the academy to hold the award functions regularly and encourage poets, journalists and drama writers to promote the language in the State.
He announced that the state government has got the land for Urdu Ghar in Nanded, Aurnagabad, districts but is facing difficulty in Mumbai. He said, “We are talking to the Mumbai University in Kalina, Santacruz but it’s not finalized yet.”
Arif Nasim Khan giving award for journalism to Saeed Hamid, Editor, Rashtriya Sahara Urdu, Mumbai
Even though a controversy is created when leading Editor of Urdu Daily Sahafat Mumbai, Hasan Kamal and former Editor of Inquilab Fuzail Ja’afri declined to take the awards. Javed Siddiqui, member of Urdu Academy Maharashtra also resigned.
Fauzia Tehseen Khan, Minister of State for School Education painted the picture of Muslims in the light of Sachar committee report. She appealed to the CM to take immediate and necessary action specially in the implementation of government schemes. She compared conditions of minorities to a patient who is severely ill and needs to be treated in Intensive Care Unit.
Arif Nasim Khan giving award for urdu journalism to Abdul Rehman Siddiqui, Urdu Times
Complaining about the insensitive behavior of bureaucrats and government officers, she demanded, “District Level Machinery for Ministry of Minority and Directorate of the ministry is require for the better implementation and follow up of the government schemes including 15 points Minority programmes.”
Aziz Ejaz, Urdu Times received award for journalism by Arif Nasim Khan
She also suggested digitization of the survey of Waqf lands and further computerization of Maualana Azad Corporation for online application, acceptance, grievances redressal of loans and other schemes related to Minority. She also said, “Ambiguity in the law about the minorities must be done away for clear cut implementations.”
Qutbuddin Shahid, Inquilab receiving award for Journalism by Arif Nasim Khan
Speaking on this occasion, Arif Nasim Khan, Minister of Minority affair expected that the state budget for the minorities, which is 267 crore this year will be increased to the level of 500 crore.