NCM wants separate department for minority issues

For a faster handling of complaints and grievances of minority communities, the National Commission for Minorities (NCM) has suggested states to establish a department exclusively for that purpose.

NCM Vice-Chairman Dr HT Sangliana told reporters in Chennai that a separate department to run minority affairs will function better than the current system followed.

He informed that Manipur was the only state to have set up such an exclusive department.

Further, he also said special programmes for minority students could be fully implemented if there is such a department.

With regard to Tamil Nadu, Sangliana said various posts in the state minorities commission, including that of its chairman, were lying vacant since the AIADMK government came to power.

Sangliana said he had interacted with Additional Director General of Police to hold an exclusive recruitment for minority students in Tamil Nadu as part of a scheme to provide more job opportunities to them.

Sangliana opined that one of the major issues faced by students in Tamil Nadu was lack of awareness on various scholarships and government schemes.

Earlier, while reviewing the implementation of Prime Minister's 15-point programme for welfare of minorities in Jaipur, Rajasthan, the NCM vice chairman said the programmes and policies for the welfare of minority in the state need to be implemented in a more effective manner.

According to a PTI report, Sangliana said the members of the state minority commission should carry out studies in different states and prepare a report so that minorities could be benefited in a proper manner.

He also stressed on creating awareness and publicity of minority related welfare schemes and programmes at large scale.