My top priority will be to implement the welfare schemes pertaining to educational and economic development of the Minorities. Everyone admits economic and educational backwardness of the Muslim community. The Govt is also serious about eradication of these problems. There is a need for minorities to come out of their inferiority complexes and to emerge as developed communities by ensuring their progress.
Mr Ahmed Nadeem expressed these views while talking to the staff reporter of Siasat yesterday. He belongs to Gorakhpur(UP). He has been appointed as secretary for the first time in any department. He was associated wit AP TRANSCO earlier. he said that he has already fixed his priorities. He told that minorities should try to come out of their inferiority complexes that injustice is being meted out to them. As far as injustice is concerned, there may be an element of truth in it. We should compete in the circumstances and follow the path of progress. It is not that the opportunities of development for minorities are limited. There is a need for their better utilization. He said that Sacchar Committee has taken into account the backwardness of the minorities in the entire country.
As Secretary of the Minorities Welfare it would be his endeavour to concentrate on self-employment schemes for minorities. He wished that the percentage of minority candidates appearing in competitive examinations should increase. He informed that the state govt has enhanced the budget for the minorities upto Rs1027 crore.His top priority would be to make the best use of this amount .He admitted that the Muslim community is more backward economically compared to other communities. He told that there has been an encouraging development in the mindset of the minority community.
The younger generation is making an attempt to prove itself worthy of various positions. This is the reason that the percentage of Minority students in competitive examinations has increased. He said that earlier our youngsters used to go to America and Gulf countries but better opportunities of development are available in our country itself.He assured that he will ensure the effective implementation of scholarships and fee reimbursement schemes. He would also review self employment schemes for minorities. A campaign would be launched for benefiting the minorities from Rajiv Yuva Kiranalu scheme. He admitted that the efficiency of minorities institutions has been affected because of lack of sufficient staff.Mr Nadeem told that whatever expectations the govt and the minorities have reposed in him, he would try to fulfill them.
He expressed the need to create an awareness for eradication of financial and educational backwardness of the Muslims.Minorites leaders, their organizations and NGO’s can play a vital role in this direction. He also sought cooperation from the media in discharging his duties. The media can mould the minds of minorities and persuade them to take advantage of the benefits of the welfare schemes formulated by the Govt. He told that it is his first posting in Secretariat which is a challenge. He said that he accepts this challenge and try to ensure maximum participation of Muslim candidates in competitive examinations. It is expected that as Secretary of the Dept of Minorities Welfare he would motivate the minorities for their development.
——Siasat News