BHOPAL, 24 October 2003 — The eight-point ‘Minority Agenda’ recommended by the Madhya Pradesh State Minorities Commission (MPSMC) last July is to be adopted by all Indian states.
A resolution to this effect was passed at a convention of the chairpersons of state commissions in Bangalore on Tuesday. The convention was chaired by the National Commission for Minorities (NCM)chairman Tarlochan Singh.
While appreciating the work of MPSMC the convention accorded the agenda the status of a role model for other states to emulate.
The minority welfare action plan envisages special schemes for educational, social and economic development of minorities, providing better health facilities and augmenting employment opportunities for them.
Ibrahim Qureshi, chairman of MPSMC, told this correspondent on phone from Bangalore that the action plan covers all minority communities including Muslims, Jains, Christians, Baudhs, Sikhs and Parsis. It provides for fully exempting poor students belonging to these communities studying in 9th to 12th classes in schools of excellence, from tuition and other fees. In predominantly minority areas, technical and vocational middle schools, industrial training institutes and polytechnics would be set up for development of their traditional trades and occupations.
He revealed that Madhya Pradesh was the first state to take such an initiative for the welfare of the minorities.
It is also the first state to set up a State Foundation of Communal Harmony for the rehabilitation of riot-affected people.
