Union Home Minister assures Ministry of Minority Affairs of full cooperation in dealing with problems of Minorities SHRI P. CHIDAMBARAM INAUGURATES THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF STATE MINORITIES COMMISSIO

Union Home Minister Shri P. Chidambaram has assured the Ministry of Minority Affairs of his full cooperation in dealing with various problems being faced by the Minorities. Inaugurating the Annual Conference of State Minorities Commissions, organized by the National Commissions for Minorities, here today at Vigyan Bhawan, Shri Chidambaram said ‘Inclusive Growth’ is the basic mantra of the Government and the Prime Minister’s New 15-Point Programme for the welfare of Minorities is meant to achieve this goal. He emphasized the value of ‘Pluralism and Diversity’ and said that this has given India its unique strength and colour. Shri Chidambaram assured full security to all sections of society and expressed the hope that the new law to check communal violence and to rehabilitate the victims of such violence will be put in place by the end of the year.

Minister for Minority Affairs, Shri Salman Khurshid, said that the National Commission for Minorities should act as the proverbial ‘Jahangir’s Bell’ for helping the Minorities and as such should always be available to come to the rescue of the Minorities. Shri Khurshid said that a time has come when there is need to go beyond the provision of ‘reservation’ and, therefore, more ‘Affirmative Action’ like Prime Minister’s New 15-Point Programme is needed. Minister for Minority Affairs said that a programme like Multi-Sectoral Development Programme for the welfare of Minorities (MsDP) needs further expansion as it is a unique area development programme under which even the majority community is benefitted thereby creating a congenial atmosphere for co-existence. Shri Khurshid said that the Ministry of Minority Affairs plans to relax the norms for declaring a district as Minority Concentration District (MCD) which will result in bringing another 40-45 districts in the ambit of MsDP.

Mohammed Shafi Qureshi, Chairperson, National Commission for Minorities dwelt upon the importance of synergy between the National Commission and the State Minorities Commissions. He said that the National Commission for Minorities will undertake a new initiative to have a regular interaction with the stakeholders, namely State Commissions, academics, civil society groups and also the media so that there is more public awareness about the issues related to minorities.

-------------

KKP/ska