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Overlooked since declaration,

Fund for the minorities now faces rejection

Finance department says three months not adequate for its utilization

06 February, 2009 06:28:31 PM +0530, Aleem Faizee

In a stunning declaration Minority Affairs Minister Anees Ahmad revealed that the ministry did not receive the fund announced by Vilasrao Deshmukh. Sanction

Minority Affairs Minister Anees Ahmed speaking with the media

After the introduction of Minority Affairs Ministry at the centre, former Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh with much fanfare had announced in February last year to introduce a new ministry with the same portfolio in Maharashtra. With the same zest, he had declared a whopping 167.62 Crore rupees for the minorities in the State. But after ten months’ of the announcement that had received criticism from a section in the country who had termed it yet another attempt to appease the Muslim vote bank not a single penny has been used till now. The reason, if newly inducted Minister of Minority Affairs Anees Ahmad is to be believed, is the ministry meant for the development of the minorities has so far failed in receiving any fund from the government.

“I declare it with full responsibility that approximately 168 Crore rupees which the government had announced for the development of the minorities has not been approved by the cabinet”, Anees Ahmed said while addressing the press after inaugurating new machineries at Malegaon Spinning Mills in Malegaon. The minister who also holds the Textile Ministry was in the textile town for a day-long visit on Friday January 2, 2009. “How can we spend the funds that we don’t have in our possession?” the Minister asked in response to a question.

“Since the Ministry earlier headed by former Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh neither planned any scheme nor presented any proposal for the minorities in front of the cabinet it did not approve any fund”, he said but anticipated, “However I will be trying to get the approval from the cabinet in its scheduled meeting on Monday.”

The Minister didn’t stop after the surprising revelation. He had even more shocks in stock for the minorities. Addressing a seminar on Textile Industry later in the evening, he virtually ruled out if at all the whole amount would ever be used. “No scheme was finalized in last ten months and when after taking the charge I approached the finance department with some schemes, they advised me to re-plan reasoning three months are not suitable to utilize these funds”, Anees Ahmad said referring to the funds amounting to 167.62 Crore rupees supposed to be utilized before the fiscal year ends on March 31.

On the expected line minister’s statement generated shock waves among the minorities. Amid the widespread disbelief, the chairman of a renowned educational institution on the condition of anonymity said, “These revelations are not new for me. In case of minorities it happens very often when most of the schemes or funds that get headlines when they are announced fail to see light of the day.”  Stating that they have become accustomed to such inaction he elaborated, “At times we find the Government more than eager towards the education of the minorities. But at the same time it also makes it sure that we don’t get the permissions for additional classes even on non-grant basis.”

Meanwhile the cabinet has constituted a subcommittee headed by Minority Affairs Minister in its meeting that was held at Mantralya on Monday. “The subcommittee would be taking every step to make it sure that the maximum fund is utilized before March 31”, Anees Ahmad said to ummid.com after the cabinet meeting.

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The truth of India is more so for the Indian Muslims and to add insult
to the injuries, there are fools who call this 'appeasement'. India
(read Hindus) need to get educated. Currently, they are not more than
highly paid labourers. Surely, the intelligent minds who were to be
running the country (politicians) are absent and so we find the mess. It
is high time the ministers, especially Mr Anees Ahmad quit and force the
government to reserve the 2008-09 amount for expenditure next year and
approve the plans within the first month. If the cabinet is not able to
meet at least once a month, let the CM decide it. Once there is
willingness on the part of the govt, the approval of the cabinet can be
taken 'post facto'. If the system is applied 'by the word', this means
that the applicants of these 'words' do not want the things to happen.
Even if Muslims turn real vote bank, what harm is caused? India as a
whole must be a vote bank so that the anti national users of patriotism
are exposed.

naqqaad@gmail.com

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