Modi govt launched good programmes for minorities: Rijiju

Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju today said the Narendra Modi government had launched "very good schemes" for the development of minorities in the country.
"After BJP government came at the Centre, we have taken up a programme for welfare of minorities. Modi government has launched very good schemes for minorities," said Rijiju on the sidelines of a meeting here.
"Our theme is 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas'. Earlier minorities were used as vote bank and programmes were announced accordingly, but no one got to see them in reality," the minister said.
"Today I interacted here with all the universities vice chancellors and over 50 college principals in the north eastern region. I asked them to give me a blue print for future development of education here and asked them to give me a report on all the colleges in the region", he said.

Stating that on receiving the report, the Centre would address what should be the separate policy for N-E and the concerns of individual colleges, Rijiju said, "I'll talk to the Prime Minister and we'll have a separate programme/policy".
Appreciating the 'Taleem ki Taquat' conference here where he was the chief guest, Rijiju said, "you can see all in the minority sector have participated in Taalim (education) programme".

The minister said "the percentage of education among Muslim and Budhhists in India was comparatively less than other communities. People from all religions and communities have to be included for the country to progress".

Stating that "there is an identity crisis and the minorities think they are weak and far from Delhi", Rijiju said, "whatever be your religion you are all citizens of India and the mainstream starts wherever you are standing."
Exhorting them to make themselves strong through education, Rijiju said, "it's the mindset. Think that you are equal to others".
The Taleem ki Taquat conference was organised by the Rashtriya Institute of Skill and Education with UGC Chairman Prof Ved Prakash, Bombay Stock Exchange MD and CEO Ashish Kumar Chauhan, IDBI Bank MD and CEO Kishor Kharat, among others.