Efforts on to simplify minority schemes implementation: Naqvi

Union Minister of State for Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi today said efforts were on to simplify the implementation process of various minority- related schemes announced by the previous UPA government.

Naqvi also said that he has asked all state governments to ensure full and judicious use of central minority funds.

The Union Minister said that there were various schemes for minorities in place but their implementation process was complex. "Our ministry will make it easier," he told PTI.

He alleged that the previous UPA government did not implement most of the minority-related schemes and they remained only on paper.

"After forming government under the leadership of Narendra Modi, implementation of these minority-related schemes have been made a top priority as empowerment of minority class is not possible without them," he said.

"Our ministry aims to connect labourers belonging to the minority sections to the bigger market network. Skill development, education, easy loan availability will play key factors in making this strategy a success," he said.

Naqvi said utilisation rate of minority funds by states like Kerala and Madhya Pradesh was good, while it was pretty low for Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal.

"For such states, we have raised the issue with their respective chief ministers," he said.

On being asked regarding modernisation of madarsas, Naqvi said, "We are in favour of modernisation of madarsas. Quality education will be promoted in madarsas through the 'Scheme to Provide Quality Education in Madarsa' (SPQEM)."

"Under SPQEM, the central government provides assistance to madrasas and maktabs (elementary schools) to make subjects like Science, Maths, Social Science, English, Hindi part of the curriculum," he said.

Naqvi said that the ministry is working towards the socio-economic development of the minority-populated areas and has also been promoting programmes like, 'Seekho aur Sikhao','Nayi Roshni' and 'Padho Pardes'.

Besides, the ministry is also planning to introduce a scheme for computerisation of the accounts of state Waqf boards. "Our aim is, 'Sabka Vikas, Sabka Saath' ('Together with all, development for all)," he said.