Rijiju: Centre to extend co-operation to NE minorities
Source: The Sangai Express / Courtesy- Assam Tribune

Guwahati, March 12 2016 : Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju on Friday said that the Union Government would extend its full co-operation to the minority communities in the North-Eastern region on the issues of education and skill develop-ment among the youth.

Addressing a programme titled 'Taleem Ki Taquat' organized by the Rashtriya Institute of Skill and Education (RISE), Rijiju said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Union Government is giving special emphasis on growth of educa-tional sector in the region.

"I also come from a minority community and it is true that people of Muslim and Buddhist communities of the country have comparatively lesser formal education.

Minorities have always been used as vote bank by the previous Government.

Though several policies were announced for minority deve- lopment, nothing concrete has come out," said Rijiju.

"Our motto is 'Sabka Sath Sabka Vikash' and for creating better educational opportunities for minority communities we would extend full co-operation to minority-related edu- cational institutions of the State," he added.

Rijiju today also took part in an interactive session with more than 50 Vice Chancellors of universities and col- lege Principals and assured them of a comprehensive programme for future develop- ment of these institutions.

He also assured of addressing the individual concerns of the colleges and universities.

Asserting that talks with the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) was heading in the positive direction, he said that sans the demand for sovereignty other modalities of the ULFA could be handled easily and the interlocutor was working on the smaller details of the issue.

Amid reports of BJP-led Central Government trying to bring the draft agreement with the ULFA by mid March to get an edge in the coming Assembly polls, Rijiju said that this issue should not be linked with elections.

"We are definitely trying to form a BJP government in Assam that can work in close co-operation with the Union Government.

But whether it happens or not, the ULFA talks should not be linked with politics," he added.

On granting Scheduled Tribe status to the six indigenous communities, he said that the committee formed for the purpose has been given three months' time to recommend the modalities.

"We also want to ensure that the interest of the existing tribes is not hampered," he added.

Speaking on the 6th 'Taleem Ki Taquat' programme, Zafar Sareshwala, Chancellor of Maulana Azad National Urdu University, Hyderabad said that ignorance about the need of proper education is the main reason behind the prevailing illiteracy among the minority community.

RS Mooshahary, former Governor of Meghalaya, Mahbubul Hoque, chairman, ERDF, Ashish Chauhan, MD and CEO of Bombay Stock Exchange, Professor Ved Prakash, Chairman of University Grants Commission also laid stress on the need of education and linking it with higher education for overall development of the country.

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