Nagpur, December 10; Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan winding up the two-day debate on the motion of thanks, said the state government has for the first time created a separate ministry for minorities and a provision of Rs 210 crore has been earmarked for it.
Chavan urged Speaker Dilip Walse Patil to set up a monitoring committee to keep track of various schemes and projects meant for minorities.
Maharashtra was celebrating its golden jubilee this year and state government would definitely involve all sections of leadership cutting across party lines in the celebrations.
On the price rise of essential commodities Chavan said the state government has released Rs 100 crore as subsidy to provide relief to the citizens. Tur dal, sugar and palm oil are being provided through PDS, he said.
Citing depreciation of rupee, he said the price rise existed even during the saffron rule.
–Agencies