SHILLONG, JAN 25: The state government on Monday maintained there is no discrimination in as far as implementation of both central and state schemes including scholarships to the state minorities like the Niam Khasi and Niam Tre.
The state government’s constituted Task Force Committee on Minorities headed by Commissioner & Secretary of Social Welfare T Dkhar is all set to present a brief report on the government’s stand before the Meghalaya High Court on January 27.
The court will again hear the petition, which alleged that Niam Khasi and Niam Tre, which are in minority in the state is being deprived of their fundamental rights and human rights.
Earlier in its order issued on January 13, the Meghalaya High Court had directed the state government to send its recommendation to the centre to ensure the same benefits of central and state schemes of scholarships and other benefits are available to the minorities like the Niam Khasi and Niam Tre.
“The committee had met on January 20 and we would present our report before the Court during the upcoming hearing on the matter,” Dkhar told reporters. He also informed that prior to the filing of the petition, the government had received similar representations from Niam Khasi and Niam Tre in the month of April and September last year.
According to the representations, they have urged the government to declare them as minority; he said adding “The task force committee, which was constituted last year, is on the job to examine the representation on merit without any bias.”
When asked, Dkhar said, “The government stand on the matter is clear that there is no discrimination. To the government, all citizens are equal irrespective of caste, creed and religion while implementing the various central and state schemes and even scholarships.”
Citing an example, he said the IAY scheme is being granted to all citizens irrespective of their background and the community or religion they came from adding “We follow the criteria of these schemes without any discrimination.”
Further official sources informed that in as far as scholarships are concerned; the usual practice all along was that the criteria for availing such scheme are the production of a ST/ST certificates.-By Our Reporter
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