Minorities in Tamil Nadu live in better conditions than other states, claims State Commission

Vellore – The minority communities of Tamil Nadu are living in better socio–economic conditions compared to other states, Tamil Nadu State Minorities Commission has announced.

According to the chairman of the Minorities Commission, Bishop M. Prakash and member Harish Mehta, which met the representatives of the minority communities recently, the socio–economic conditions of the minorities in Tamil Nadu are far better when compared to other states.

Speaking to the media, Bishop Prakash stated that peace and religious harmony prevailed in the state among the majority and minority communities.

“We are touring all the districts of the State and listening to the grievances of the minorities,” he said. “We are seeking statutory status so that we can discharge more service to the needy.”

“There is almost a uniform need all over, which included the demand for Most Backward Class status for Dalit Christians, patta and free electricity for all the places of worship, land for graveyard/cemetery, holiday for Mahavir Jayanthi and January 1 and so on,” he continued.

One of the specific needs aired by the Muslims in Tamil Nadu was the opening of the historic mosque for worship at the Vellore Fort, which is presently under the control of the Archeological Society of India (ASI).

“The other is a separate directorate for the promotion of Urdu education. The Muslim educational institutions in Tamil Nadu wanted to fill the vacancies of the posts of teachers,” he added. “Similar demands were there across the State for all the minority institutions.”

Bishop Prakash has assured that the Commission would forward all the demands and grievances made by the members of minority communities to the Chief Minister.

The Bishop also noted that while the Muslims took active interest in availing bank loans to start business, similar efforts were lacking among other minorities, especially the Christians.