Govt has worked for uplift of minorities: Najma

Union Minority Affairs Minister Najma Heptulla on Saturday said that her ministry has succeeded in changing the ‘intentionally created’ perception that the Narendra Modi government would be anti-minority by launching various schemes for the uplift of the communities in its two-year rule.

“A perception and fear was intentionally created in the minds of the people before Lok Sabha elections that if Modiji comes to power he will eliminate the Minorities Ministry or if manages to exit, its budget will certainly be cut. It was a big challenge for me to take up this ministry in those circumstances, but I accepted it and things changed,” the minister said.

Talking about new initiatives like ‘Nai Manzil’, ‘Seekho Aur Kamao’ ‘USTTAD’ and ‘Hamari Dharohar’ taken up by the ministry for the development of minorities, Najma Heptulla said after the allocation of 10 per cent more to states, there was continuous increase in the budget allocation and no cut was imposed in the embarked Plan Budget for the ministry.

“We have started a pilot project in our programme ‘Nai Manzil’ for madrasas and we are happy that today thousands of children are taking training under it. The trainers promise to provide jobs to more than 70 per cent children or we will facilitate cheaper loans to them from NMDFC to start their own occupation,” she said while speaking at an event to showcase the ministry’s two-years achievements at Vigyan Bhawan.