National Commission for Minorities member review progress of various schemes at Chandigarh
KI Singh/ royalpatiala.in/ Chandigarh
Manjit Singh Rai, Member of National Commission for Minorities (NCM), Government of India, New Delhi visited Chandigarh from 14th – 16th December, 2019 to review the progress of various schemes/programmes covered under Prime Minister’s New 15 Point Programme for the Welfare of Minority Communities. Member, NCM held a meeting with the Commissioner Municipal Corporation, ADC, Director Social Welfare, Superintendent of Police, Director Higher/School Education representatives of the Minority Communities and other senior officers of Chandigarh Administration.
Director Social Welfare, Women & Child Development on behalf of the Chandigarh Administration welcomed the Member and briefed the progress schemes/programmes relating to the Minority Communities. Director Social Welfare apprised that the minority population in UT, Chandigarh is approximately 19% of total population.
The Member reviewed 15 Point Programme, and emphasized upon shifting of Anganwadi Centres running in rented buildings to the Government Elementary School Buildings/Government owned buildings, regular health check up of all children enrolled under Anganwadi Centres for overall growth, proper disbursement of Scholarship Schemes, formation of Self Help Groups for upliftment of Women of Minority Community in convergence with youth, reservation in Government Housing Schemes, Loan for Self Employment and Skill Training.
Director Health Services informed that funds to pregnant/lactating mothers under the scheme Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana have been disbursed upto October, 2019 and data pertaining to minorities will be shared with the Commission. He further informed that physical verification of Anganwadi children is done regularly by a team of doctors in convergence with the Department of Social Welfare and Education.
Director School Education, also briefed about the Scholarship Schemes for the students belonging to minority communities and informed that during the year 2018-19, 1464 students have been disbursed scholarship under Pre-Matric, Post-Matric and Merit-cum-Means Schemes amounting to Rs.21.07 Lakhs and during the current year, 1799 applications have been sent to the Ministry for disbursement of scholarships. Further, Member directed that in Madrassas basic education shall be provided in addition to religious education.
It was also apprised that, Chandigarh Scheduled Caste, Backward Classes & Minorities Finance & Development Corporation has disbursed loan amounting to Rs.10.00 Lakh to 40 minority beneficiaries under Self Employment Scheme and 174 minority beneficiaries have been imparted skill development training in different trades during the current financial year. Superintendent of Police informed that 19% police personnel belong to different minority communities. Representative of MC informed that 37 Self Help Groups for empowerment of Women have been made and out of 370 beneficiaries 104 belong to minority communities.
The Member acknowledged the efforts made by different departments of UT, Chandigarh for the Welfare of Minorities and desired that the departments should ensure effective implementation of the schemes by using social media platforms and advocacy by sharing motivational stories.
