The Hindu : More houses for minorities under Central scheme urged

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jan 21, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

More houses for minorities under Central scheme urged

By Our Staff Reporter

CUDDAPAH, JAN. 20. The National Minority Commission has recommended enhancement of the mandal-wise housing quota for minorities under the Valmiki Ambedkar Awas Yojana (VAMBAY) scheme, said its member, K. Shantha Reddy, on Tuesday.

Addressing a press conference here, she said various departments were asked to take up developmental activities and conduct vocational courses for minorities, involving NGOs striving for their welfare. The A.P. State Minority Finance Development Corporation funds were being used optimally and no project was pending for want of release of matching grant by the State Government, she claimed.

The Dukan-Makan scheme being implemented in the State was successful and would be extended to other States, Ms. Shantha Reddy said. She said she would receive representations from people and political functionaries at Cuddapah and Rayachoti and would forward them to the APSMFDC Managing Director and District Collector. Minorities predominantly complained of a feeling of insecurity, she said and attributed it to the rampant illiteracy among them.

The Commission members were striving to eliminate the insecurity feeling among minorities by making efforts for their rapport with the majority sections, she said. Improving the social status of minorities would help in removing the feeling of insecurity from their minds, she observed.

The Commission constituted two teams, one headed by its vice-chairman, Osmani, and another by Sethna, to examine the Ayodhya issue.

The Commission held discussions with the VHP leaders including its president, Praveen Togadia, and Muslim religious leaders, she said. The Commission was satisfied with Mr. Togadia's assertion that `Trishuls' (tridents) being distributed would not be used for attacking minorities, she said.

The Kashmiri Pandits, who are a minority in Jammu & Kashmir, are being rehabilitated in camps at Delhi, Noida and Srinagar, Ms. Shantha Reddy said.

Dr. Osmani and the National Minorities Finance Development Corporation secretary, Khaji, would tour Cuddapah and Chittoor districts from February 14 to 16, she said.

When asked about the alleged misappropriation of APSMFDC funds sanctioned to rehabilitate minorities in Cuddapah town who were affected in the Buggavanka floods in October 2001, the Collector, Jayesh Ranjan, said the vigilance officials were enquiring into the charges and completed field verification. He said loans were only being given to groups and not individuals, except for widows.

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