New Delhi: Union Minority Affairs Minister Dr Najma Heptuallah while meeting the UK High Commissioner to India Sir James Bevan Monday said the centre is planning to set up Equal Opportunities Commission – an initiative the BJP had opposed when in opposition.
"By setting up an Equal Opportunity Commission (EOC), the government wants to ensure that all the deprived sections of minorities get opportunities and benefits of development", Dr Najma Heptuallah said while meeting the UK High Commissioner to India Sir James Bevan here on Monday.
She also briefed details of minority welfare schemes run by the ministry to Sir James Bevan who wanted to know about these.
She said the ministry has been implementing area development scheme, skill development and other schemes to uplift minority communities particularly the Muslims who lag behind in socio-economic indicator.
Dr. Heptullah said that the British envoy wanted to share experience of the schemes run for minority communities in UK. The British envoy also invited Dr. Heptullah to UK to study the working of Equal Opportunity Commission in Britain.
Interacting on common issues between India and UK, the British High Commissioner also appreciated the Indian diversity saying it set an example for the world.
The previous Congress-led UPA government had passed the EOC bill in the cabinet just before the last session of Parliament but had failed to introduce it in the House.
The Sachar committee had made recommendation for setting up EOC for providing level playing field to the Muslim community.
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