Prominent demands include the development of minority colonies using the Chief Minister’s development fund, increased funds for the Urdu Academy, and the establishment of a loan amount of 25,000 under Sharm Shakti.
Mohammad Alamullah | Clarion India
NEW DELHI — In a bid to address the socio-economic needs of minorities in the state, prominent figures including Naseer Ahmed, political secretary to Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah; Rahim Khan, Minister For Municipal Administration and Haj; and Ishwar Khandre, minister and working president of the state Congress committee; have presented a comprehensive memorandum to the chief minister.
Informing this at an evet in Gulbarga on Tuesday, prominent social activist, Advocate Abdul Jabbar Gola, emphasised the urgent allocation of Rs 10,000 crores for minority development and welfare in the upcoming state budget.
Among the critical demands outlined in the memorandum is the appointment of teachers based on the Sachar Committee recommendations, establishing Maulana Azad Public Schools for the elimination of Muslim backwardness, and converting private buildings into permanent structures for these schools, Gola said, according to reports reaching here on Wednesday.
Additionally, the memorandum advocates for starting pre-university (PU) classes in Maulana Azad Public Schools, making staff positions permanent, launching coaching centres for competitive exams, and providing interest-free loans through Karnataka Minorities Development Corporation (KMDC), reports said.
The memorandum, comprising 36 key demands, also urges the restoration of 44% reservation, lifting the ban on hijab in colleges, and initiating Hajj flights from Gulbarga Airport.
Addressing the gathering, Dr. Muhammad Asghar Jaleel, political secretary of the All India Milli Council, highlighted the importance of restarting the loan scheme and allocating funds for minority welfare, emphasising a substantial increase in the Shadi Bhagya scheme from a thousand to one lakh.
Dr. Jaleel underscored the necessity of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s support for Urdu to attain the status of the second official language. The memorandum also calls for the allocation of Rs 5 crores to the Urdu Academy.
Prominent demands include the development of minority colonies using the Chief Minister’s development fund, increased funds for the Urdu Academy, and the establishment of a loan amount of 25,000 under Sharm Shakti. The memorandum aims to secure Rs 10,000 crores for minorities and advocates for a discussion on increasing taxes and subsidies.
Advocate Gola emphasised the need for representation in the government and urged Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to consider the demands seriously. The memorandum also proposes an increase in the target for Urdu engineers in government schools and the removal of the ban on hijab in colleges.
The memorandum reflects the collective efforts of activists, advocates, scholars, and intellectuals, aiming to address the pressing issues faced by minorities in Karnataka. The advocates have called for prompt action from the government, ensuring the equitable development and welfare of minority communities in the state.