New Delhi: Welcoming the increase in budget
allocation for the Minority Affairs Ministry, Muslim bodies
have stressed on ensuring the government schemes meant for
minorities be implemented on grass-root level as well.
The government has earmarked Rs 3,135 crore for the
Minority Affairs Ministry, an increase of Rs 385 crore from
the last year`s allocation.
"We welcome the increase in budget of Minority Affairs
Ministry. We hope it will help increase the pace of activities
being conducted for development of Muslims in the country,"
Maulana Arshad Madani, President of Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind, said.
Muslims today are facing several challenges such as that
of education, employment and security. Government will have to
help us in dealing with these challenges, Madani added.
Spokesperson of All India Ulama and Mashaikh Board Syed
Babar Ashraf said, "Minority Affairs Ministry is running
several programs, but there is a lack of infrastructure on
ground level for their implementation. This should be taken
care of."
Funds given for the schemes are not spent properly
because of lack of monitoring and basic infrastructure. the
government should focus on minority concentrated districts,
Ashraf added.
The government has declared 90 districts in the country
as minority concentrated which are being covered under several
schemes to address basic and higher educational needs of
minorities.
PTI
