Centre has released Rs 128 cr for minorities: Heptulla

Union Minority Affairs Minister Najma A Heptulla today said the Centre released Rs 128 crore last week to Assam for implementing various schemes of development of minorities.
"Last week, we released Rs 128 crore to Assam. Although Assam did not give the utilisation certificates earlier, but we pro-actively pursued the matter as it would be lapsed if not used before March 31," Heptulla said at a press conference.
She said the money would be used for projects related to development of minorities in the state.
Meanwhile, Heptulla today chaired a meeting to review the projects for development of minorities in North East.

"I regret to say that apart from Assam, no minister from any other NE state attended the meeting," she added.
Heptulla examined the progress of 11th and 12th Five Year Plan of North Eastern states and evaluated the progress of schemes like Multi-sectoral Development Programme, Prime Minister's New 15 Point Programme, Scholarships, National Minorities Development and Finance Corporation, Maulana Azad National Academy for Skills, Waqf Matters and National Waqf Development Corporation.

The Minister declared that henceforth all welfare schemes for the minorities will be based on the 2011 census.
"In this regard, the Ministry of Minority Affairs has made a comprehensive survey of the population of minorities up to the block level so that fund distribution for minorities reaches the target audience," she added.

At the review meeting, Heptulla asked the states to come up with proposals based on the needs and demands of the market and said the final focus should be on employment generation of individuals at the micro-level.