Mah Assembly presses for regulation of minority-run institutes

Members in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly today sounded the need for government regulation of educational institutions run by linguistic minorities.
The intervention on this issue was made by Speaker Dilip Walse Patil during a discussion on educational opportunities for minorities in the lower house through a calling attention notice.
Walse Patil said apart from religious minorities, there are linguistic minorities, most of whom are well to do and own educational institutions who do not grant admissions to weaker and backward class students.
The view was supported by Leader of Opposition Eknath Khadse who demanded that government take steps to ensure that the erring educational institutions do not go scot-free.

Industries Minister Narayan Rane assured the House that the issue would be discussed in the cabinet and an appropriate decision would be taken soon.
Earlier in the debate, Congress legislator Amin Patel who initiated the calling attention notice, demanded 10 per cent reservation for Muslims in jobs and education to which Minister of State for Minority Affairs Fauzia Khan said reservation for minorities in both the areas would be taken soon.
Patel also demanded improvement in quality of education as well as upgradation of facilities in minority-run institutions.
The proposal is being studied she said adding minorities included not just Muslims but Sikhs, Jains,Buddhists and Parsis too.