SHILLONG, JUNE 25: Union minister for minority affairs Najma Heptulla said that the BJP led NDA government of Narendra Modi will pay special attention to the north eastern states even as she felt that integration and strengthening of ties between different communities in the region can be achieved by undertaking different economic activities.
Heptulla told the Meghalaya’s unit of the National People’s Party (NPP) delegation comprising of the NPP legislator James Sangma, former state finance minister Conrad Sangma and former state transport minister Manirul Islam Sarkar on Wednesday that her ministry objectives is to ensure the integration between the different communities which she felt can be achieved through economic activities and interdependence.
Heptulla also mentioned to the NPP delegation that more focus should be given to local skill development centers which would allow people to set up different economic activities and units that would improve the economic scenarios in the respective regions and leading to better integration of the nation
Heptulla assured the delegation that met her in Delhi of the NDA government full support and informed that the north east will be given special focus by the Narendra Modi’s government.
The NPP delegation also apprised Heptulla of issues and problems faced by the minorities in the state, including Christians, Muslims, Scheduled Castes and other minorities.
In his address to the parliament, President Pranab Mukherjee had said that the union government is committed to making all minorities’ equal partners in India’s progress. He said the government will especially strengthen measures to spread modern and technical education among minority communities and a National Madarsa Modernization Programme will be initiated.
NPP member Manirul Sarkar urged Heptulla to take up this program both in letter and spirit in all parts of the country. He said necessary steps to improve infrastructure and technical set up should also be undertaken in these institutions.
When the NPP delegation sought clarifications on the implication of RTE on institutions run by religious organization, Heptulla mentioned that these institutions did not come under the provisions of the RTE.
The delegation stressed on the need to improve infrastructure in various educational institutions, and impart skill development to different minorities groups in order to uplift them in the long run. They mentioned to the minister that many Christian run institutions had been contributing to the overall education sector in the state and requested the her to support such organization. They mentioned that there are lot of work that was being done in the health sector by Christian bodies and other minority groups and they urged the minister to support such organizations so that they can continue doing their good work
The delegation also briefed Heptulla about the law and order situation in the state, especially Garo hills, and how small medium and big businessmen have been suffering during the past four years. They mentioned that many businessmen and traders from tribal and non-tribal communities had been receiving extortion notes and many had been kidnapped. The delegation said, “This had immensely affected the economic environment in the region and many people had been affected.”- By Our Reporter
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