Tanmay Mondal
IIM graduate, Batch of 2014
Ever since the Trinamool Congress led by Ms. Mamata Banerjee came to power in West Bengal, special focus has been given to the development of minority communities in the state. The Government works for all, irrespective of their caste, creed or religion. In the last two-and-a-half years, various scholarships worth Rs 993.2 crore have been conferred on 57 lakh students from minority communities.
Scholarships for students: From 2006-07 to 2010-11, only 8.69 lakh students were given scholarships worth Rs 193 crore whereas in 2012-13 alone, 17.72 lakh students were conferred scholarships worth Rs 298 crore. In the financial year 2013-14, till date, scholarships worth Rs 417 crore have been provided to 22.77 lakh students.
More credit for self-employment: During the tenure of this government, credit amounting to Rs 462 crore has been provided to 2.5 lakh minority youths for self-employment. During 2010-11, credit worth Rs 30 crore was given to 5637 people, whereas during 2012-13, credit worth Rs 208 crore has been given to 1.21 lakh people. In financial year 2013-14, till date, 69,000 youths have been provided with credit worth Rs 112 crore.
More reservation in government jobs and higher studies: 94.5% of total Muslim population of the state has been provided reservation in jobs and higher studies.
Due to the continuous efforts of the government of West Bengal and as an outcome of a long-standing demand, the government of India has enlisted 37 new communities as OBCs, out of which 35 are minority communities. This will enhance the scope of education and jobs among Muslims.
Providing bicycles to facilitate education: Bicycles have been provided to 1.82 lakh girl-students from minority communities.
Recognizing Urdu language: Urdu has been recognised as an official language in areas where the Urdu-speaking population is 10% or more of the total. Branches of Urdu Academy are going to be opened in Asansol and Islampur.
New initiatives in the education sector:
• Work for the construction of a new medical college at the border of North and South 24 Parganas, seven polytechnic colleges and 24 ITIs in minority-dominated areas across the state is underway. 238 new hostels are being built for minority students.
• An additional few thousand teachers for 614 madrasahs will be appointed. Besides, construction work for 12 English-medium madrasahs has started. Two new buildings of Aliah University, at Rajarhat and Gorachand Road in Kolkata, are being built at a cost of Rs 298 crore.
• Courses on education (B Ed) and Islamic theology, and the higher secondary section of Anglo-Persian School have recently been inaugurated at the new campus of Aliah University. These have opened a new door for higher studies for minority students.
• 614 madrasahs across the state have been given a total of Rs 3.57 crore as laboratory grant and Rs 2.61 crore as library grant, and 87 madrasahs have been given computers worth Rs 3.68 crore.
• Three thousand seven hundred and fifty madrasah teachers are being trained to acquire B Ed and D L Ed certificates.
Steps for the security of cemeteries: Rs 66 crore has been provided for reforming 1400 burial grounds.
Construction of Haj-house: Construction of the third Haj-house for Haj Pilgrims is going on. Under the Geetanjali and Natun Bari housing projects, 1.48 lakh minority-community families have been given financial help to construct houses.
Marketing hubs to facilitate self-employment: Construction of marketing hubs in 212 blocks have started, with the aim being to construct 500 such hubs across the state. Of these, 109 marketing hubs are being constructed by the Department of Minority Affairs to market products made by minority self-help groups. To provide more employment opportunities, 2.66 lakh people have been given training.
Minority-community buildings in the districts: Eighteen minority-community buildings in 18 districts have been planned; out of this, 15 have already been completed.
Infrastructure development under Multi-sectoral Development Programme (MsDP): Under this project, 11,196 new anganwadi centres, 944 sub-health centres, 10,164 additional classrooms in schools and 12,421 tube wells have been constructed.
IIM graduate, Batch of 2014
Ever since the Trinamool Congress led by Ms. Mamata Banerjee came to power in West Bengal, special focus has been given to the development of minority communities in the state. The Government works for all, irrespective of their caste, creed or religion. In the last two-and-a-half years, various scholarships worth Rs 993.2 crore have been conferred on 57 lakh students from minority communities.
Scholarships for students: From 2006-07 to 2010-11, only 8.69 lakh students were given scholarships worth Rs 193 crore whereas in 2012-13 alone, 17.72 lakh students were conferred scholarships worth Rs 298 crore. In the financial year 2013-14, till date, scholarships worth Rs 417 crore have been provided to 22.77 lakh students.
More credit for self-employment: During the tenure of this government, credit amounting to Rs 462 crore has been provided to 2.5 lakh minority youths for self-employment. During 2010-11, credit worth Rs 30 crore was given to 5637 people, whereas during 2012-13, credit worth Rs 208 crore has been given to 1.21 lakh people. In financial year 2013-14, till date, 69,000 youths have been provided with credit worth Rs 112 crore.
More reservation in government jobs and higher studies: 94.5% of total Muslim population of the state has been provided reservation in jobs and higher studies.
Due to the continuous efforts of the government of West Bengal and as an outcome of a long-standing demand, the government of India has enlisted 37 new communities as OBCs, out of which 35 are minority communities. This will enhance the scope of education and jobs among Muslims.
Providing bicycles to facilitate education: Bicycles have been provided to 1.82 lakh girl-students from minority communities.
Recognizing Urdu language: Urdu has been recognised as an official language in areas where the Urdu-speaking population is 10% or more of the total. Branches of Urdu Academy are going to be opened in Asansol and Islampur.
New initiatives in the education sector:
• Work for the construction of a new medical college at the border of North and South 24 Parganas, seven polytechnic colleges and 24 ITIs in minority-dominated areas across the state is underway. 238 new hostels are being built for minority students.
• An additional few thousand teachers for 614 madrasahs will be appointed. Besides, construction work for 12 English-medium madrasahs has started. Two new buildings of Aliah University, at Rajarhat and Gorachand Road in Kolkata, are being built at a cost of Rs 298 crore.
• Courses on education (B Ed) and Islamic theology, and the higher secondary section of Anglo-Persian School have recently been inaugurated at the new campus of Aliah University. These have opened a new door for higher studies for minority students.
• 614 madrasahs across the state have been given a total of Rs 3.57 crore as laboratory grant and Rs 2.61 crore as library grant, and 87 madrasahs have been given computers worth Rs 3.68 crore.
• Three thousand seven hundred and fifty madrasah teachers are being trained to acquire B Ed and D L Ed certificates.
Steps for the security of cemeteries: Rs 66 crore has been provided for reforming 1400 burial grounds.
Construction of Haj-house: Construction of the third Haj-house for Haj Pilgrims is going on. Under the Geetanjali and Natun Bari housing projects, 1.48 lakh minority-community families have been given financial help to construct houses.
Marketing hubs to facilitate self-employment: Construction of marketing hubs in 212 blocks have started, with the aim being to construct 500 such hubs across the state. Of these, 109 marketing hubs are being constructed by the Department of Minority Affairs to market products made by minority self-help groups. To provide more employment opportunities, 2.66 lakh people have been given training.
Minority-community buildings in the districts: Eighteen minority-community buildings in 18 districts have been planned; out of this, 15 have already been completed.
Infrastructure development under Multi-sectoral Development Programme (MsDP): Under this project, 11,196 new anganwadi centres, 944 sub-health centres, 10,164 additional classrooms in schools and 12,421 tube wells have been constructed.
