Budgetary allocation fails to cheer Muslim leaders

The 74 per cent budgetary allocation hike to Rs 1,740 crore for minorities has failed to cheer Muslim leaders in Uttar Pradesh, which accounts for the largest chunk of the community in India.

The Budget increased the plan outlay for the union ministry of minorities affairs from Rs 1,000 crore to Rs 1,740 crore in 2009-10.

The leaders maintained the allocation was paltry for the large Indian Muslim community, the majority of which was mired in poverty, illiteracy and unemployment.

Among other things, the Budget proposed allocation of Rs 25 crore each for two new Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) campuses in West Bengal and Kerela.

Welcoming the hike in allocation, prominent Sunni cleric Maulana Khalid Rashid Firangi Mahli said the grant for only two universities was grossly inadequate, especially when UP and Bihar have not got any new institution.

“We need at least six universities for minorities all over India. Besides, the AMU campus in Kerela could have been set up at other place with greater Muslim concentration,” he added.

UP has the largest Muslim population in India at about 40 million. Muslims form about 18-20 per cent of the state population.

“The Union Budget has little grant for the domestic cottage industry, which employs a large number of Muslim population,” he added.

The Maulana suggested that Chinese import of cottage industry products should be banned to boost the domestic industry, which would in turn help in improving the lot of the minorities’ families.

There should be more allocation for the modernization of madarsas, he added.

The Budget included Rs 990 crore for Multi Sectoral Development Programme for minorities in select minority concentration districts, grants-in-aid to Maulana Azad Education Foundation, provisions for National Minorities Development and Finance Corporation and pre-matric and post-matric scholarship for minorities.

Shia leader Maulana Yasoob Abbas suggested that more budgetary grant should be made towards poor and backward Muslims.

“Besides, the budget should have special grants for Shias, which are a minority among the minorities,” he informed.

“We are holding a meeting in New Delhi on July 13 to discuss the budget,” he added.

All India Muslim Women Personal Law Board (AIMWPLB) chairperson Shaista Amber said the central government should first give the account about the utility of Rs 1,000 grant last year.

“The Rs 1,740 crore grant for minorities is a joke. It is not sufficient for even the welfare of Muslim women leave alone the entire community,” she added.