By TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter,
New Delhi: A group of alumni of the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) based in Delhi have written a letter to the Finance Minister P Chidambaram, drawing attention to “allocation of minuscule amount of budget for the FY 2013 – 2014 for the welfare of minorities who constitute around 14% of the national population.”
They have also sought an appointment with the Minister for discussion over the issue.
In the letter, a copy of which is with TCN, they write, “We would like to discuss and demand allocation of funds and their effective utilizations for minorities on the lines of SC and ST, because minorities particularly Muslims are more backward than SC and ST on socio-economic and educational fronts as per data of Prime Minister’s constituted report of Justice Sachar Committee.”
Sending details of money released for various minority welfare schemes, they have also questioned and sought to know why money allocated were not released.
“For the year 2012-13 under non-plan category, Rs 3154.70 Crore was allocated but only Rs 2218.26 Crore could be released, so Rs 900 crore was deducted. The govt. should find out why this fund was not released and spent,” they wrote.
Speaking to TCN, Parwez Mohammad, one of the signatories to the letter, said, “We want the ministry to enhance the budgetary allocations and also create a system where we can ably utilize the money allocated effectively through Minority Affairs Ministry.”
He also told TCN that he got calls from the ministry and that they are willing to discuss the matter and has assured of a meeting with Finance Secretary and Budget Department of the Finance Ministry sometimes next week.
