21 residential schools in minority areas: Aowal

By our Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, April 1: In line with the State Government’s endeavour to set up as many as nine girls’ colleges in minority-domited areas in Assam, the government at the Centre is also going to set up as many as 21 residential schools in minority areas in the State.

Making this public on Sunday, Assam Minority Development Board (AMDB) Chairman Muminul Aowal said: “With the BJP coming to power in Assam, Dispur has taken up many projects to bring minorities in the State back on tract. The minds of minorities in Assam had all along been laden with the angst of the government depriving them of benefits meant for them during the Congress regime. However, the change of guards at Dispur has changed the scerio of minorities in the State.”

The new government at Dispur, according to Aowal, has put an end to the politics of vote bank. “For the development of minorities in the State, we’ve held talks with as many as 67 minority organizations in the presence of Chief Minister Sarbanda Sonowal. The term ‘minority’ in Assam includes Muslims, Jains, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists and others. Such talks have pinpointed three areas – communication to minority areas, their education and healthcare – for emphasis so as to ensure their development. Based on this, we’ve submitted proposals for various minority schemes to the government,” he said.

According to Aowal, the Centre has fixed Rs 700 crore for the setting up of 21 residential schools in minority-domited areas in the State under the Multi-Sectoral Development Programme (MSDP) under the Ministry of Minority Affairs. “Rs 250 crore has already been released. Each of such schools is going to cost Rs 30.42 crore. This apart, Dispur is going to set up nine girls’ colleges in minority areas in the State. Rs 140 crore for scholarship of minority students in the State has already been deposited in their bank accounts. From our end i.e. from AMDB many schemes are taken up from time to time for honing skill of minorities in the State,” he said.