Minorities and deprived sections need to grow and grow uniformly: Arun Jaitley
The Union Minister for Finance, Corporate Affairs and Information & Broadcasting, Shri Arun Jaitley delivering the 8th Annual NCM Lecture on Economic Empowerment of Minorities, in New Delhi on March 23, 2016. The Union Minister for Minority Affairs, Dr. Najma A. Heptulla and the Minister of State for Minority Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs, Shri Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi are also seen.
The Centre is committed to advance the cause of minorities and other disadvantaged groups. The government is working on the premise that these sections need to grow and grow uniformly and striving to bring uniformity to the extent possible. This was sated by Shri Arun Jaitley, the Minister for Finance, Corporate Affairs and Information & Broadcasting while delivering 8th Annual Lecture of NCM here today on ‘’Economic empowerment of Minorities’’. Shri Jaitley said that higher growth rate impacts all but there are areas where certain minorities lag behind and those areas need to be addressed. Post 1991, improvement in conditions of deprived sections of the society has been faster compared to pre 1991 period but not uniform, he added. Education is the key to improve their condition faster and uniformly and conversion of skills in to opportunities is another means to achieve it, he added.
Speaking on the occasion Dr. Najma Heptulla, the Union Minister for Minority Affairs said that effective implementation of schemes and ensuring uniformity in development are the two guiding principles for “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas”. The Minority Affairs Ministry is focusing on implementing the schemes for six notified minorities to make difference on ground. To address the the micro level deficiencies in development, the Ministry is emphasing on education, skill development and dispelling social alienation of minorities specially muslims. Appreciating support from the FM and PM to her Ministry schemes, Dr. Najma said Nai Manzil and Hamari Dharohar schemes launched during this government are being received well and have started yielding results.
The National Commission of Minorities was established in 1978 through a Government notification dated 12.01.1978. Later through enactment of the National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992, a statutory Commission, better known as NCM was set up on 17.05.1993 and the first Chairperson assumed office in July, 1993.
In order to commemorate the setting up of the Statutory Commission in July, 1993, NCM initiated a Lecture Series in 2008.
The first NCM lecture was delivered by Justice A. M. Ahmadi, former Chief Justice of India in the year 2008.
Justice Rajender Sachar delivered the second NCM lecture in the year 2009 on “Minorities in Constitution ofIndia”.
In the year 2010, Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, former President on India delivered the third NCM lecture on “Evolution of a prosperous, Peaceful, inclusive and Happy Society.”
The fourth NCM lecture was delivered by H. H. The Dalai Lama in the year 2011.
Dr. Shashi Tharoor delivered the fifth NCM lecture on the topic of “Who is an Indian? A Nation of Minorities” in the year 2012.
The sixth Annual Lecture was delivered by Shri Nitish Kumar, the then Chief Minister of Bihar in 2013 on the topic “The Idea of India”.
The seventh Annual Lecture was delivered by Sh. Fali Nariman on “Minorities on cross roads: Comments on Judicial pronouncements” in the year 2014.
