(Reopens DEL 108)

Kidwai also raised the issue of problems of minorities in getting micro loans and demanded that the conditionalities for small loans to SCs/STs and minorities should be the same. Tom Vadakkan demanded that the CGHS facility should be provided to all PIB accredited journalists. The meeting also saw demands by women for gender budgeting. Fernandes wanted the tax on bidis to be reduced saying that employment is coming down in the labour intensive due to the taxes.