Govt to set up Minority Welfare Dept

Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 27: Kerala Local Self Government and Rural Development Minister Paloli Mohamed Kutty told the State Assembly on Thursday, Nov 27 the government was taking steps to constitute a Minority Welfare Department to coordinate the activities for Minority Welfare in the State.

Replying to questions by Mr Adoor Prakash (Cong) and others, he said the government had already constituted a Cell in this regard and it would be expanded in a phased manner.

Later, it would be converted into the proposed Minority Welfare Department.

Since the Minority Welfare schemes were implemented through various departments, the government had, in-principle, agreed to constitute a separate department in this regard to coordinate the activities in the sector.

Regarding the scholarships to Muslim girls, he said the Centre had allotted them only to 29,000 girls and the State Government had urged the Centre to increase the number to 217,412.

Since the government had received large number of applications for the scholarships, the government would take steps to provide the benefit to the Muslim girls if the Centre failed to heed the States' request, he added.

Mr Kutty said the government was planning to introduce a pension scheme through the department to Madrasa teachers in the State and the government would release Rs two crore as part of collecting welfare fund.

UNI