Commission notes plight of minorities in Jiribam
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 08, 2011: A delegation of Manipur State Minorities Commission (MSMC) led by its Chairman A Halim Choudhury, in association with All Manipur Meitei Pangal Welfare Association (AMPWA) conducted a series of interaction programme at various places in Jiribam sub-division of Imphal East District.

The MSMC team, also comprising of the Commission Secretary M R Sheikh and members of AMPWA covered Babupara, Lalpani, Ahmadabad, Kashimpur, Sonapur, Rashidpur, Islamabad and Kadamtala areas of the sub division from February 3 to 5. The Commission noted the grievances of the people and extended help to make them fully aware of the welfare schemes for the minorities which is being implemented by the State Government.

During interaction with the locals the joint team also held discussions on various issues relating to educational and economic backwardness of the minority communities including Christians, Muslims and some Buddhists in the area.

The team also conducted a brief survey with regard to education, economy and social status of the people.

During the tour it came to light that the Muslims in Jiribam are projected as Manipuri speaking group and Bengali speaking group.

The Commission, constituted to tackle issues related to both Linguistic and Religious Minorities as notified by the Constitution, also received a complaint regarding shortage of school teachers and infrastructure.

Another Complaint of the Bengali Speaking Muslims was to make them available Bengali text books as they have the right to get their children educated in mother tongue upto primary level.

The Commission urged the people to understand the need of using Manipuri Language besides speaking their own mother tongue.

Apart from the team interacting with public leaders and religious groups, and reviewing implementation of the Prime Minister's New 15 Point Programme, it came to light that only a few Anganwadi Centres are established in the minority concentrated areas.

The Anganwadi centres are supposed to be opened in areas where at least 20 percent of the total popu lation belong to the Minorities as per scheme highlighted in the PM's 15 Point Programme.

The Commission was also intimated that less number of students could enjoy benefit of the Scholarship Schemes owing to difficulties in communication between the beneficiaries and the implementing agency.

It is said that they cannot afford the amount to be spent in transportation for collecting and submitting the Application Forms, to which the Commission acknowledged the need for opening form collection and submission counter at Jiribam as special case or to make them available the facilities of online application and submission of forms.

No sign of proper implementation of Greater Resources of Urdu Language Scheme and access to school education for minority girls like establishment of Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas were found in the sub-division.

Moreover, an Anganwadi Centre in Bengali speaking area was found almost abandoned which is being used to rear goats and cows instead of teaching children, said a Commission statement while strongly advocating setting up of some Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas in the Muslim dominated areas to facilitate the young girls get residential studies up to the Primary Level.

Such a Scheme was launched in July 2004, for setting up residential schools at upper primary level for girls belonging predominantly to the sC, ST, OBC and minority communities.

The Scheme is being implemented in educationally backward blocks of the country where the female rural literacy is below the national average (46.13%) and gender gap in literacy is above the national average (21.67%). The Scheme Provides for a minimum reservation of 75 percent of the seats for girls belonging to SC, ST, OBC or minority communities, the statement explained.

The delegation also visited Manipuri inhabited areas in Barak Valley in Assam and attended a convention of Manipuri Muslims at Banskandi, Assam on february 6. The convention was organised jointly by AMPWA and Manipuri Muslim Development Association, Banskandi, Assam, it added.

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