By Zaidul Haque, TwoCircle.net,
Kolkata: Mamata Banerjee government in West Bengal Government beats union budget in allocation of funds to any university in the year 2013-’14. The government has announced a total of Rs 235.19 Crore only for the Aliah University, which comes under the department of Minority Affairs & Madrasa Development of Government of West Bengal.
Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram announced Rs. 100 Crore each for the Aligarh Muslim University and Benaras Hindu University.
Finance Minister of West Bengal, Amit Mitra introduced the General Budget of the state for the year 2013-’14 on 11 March, 2013.
Funds for the development of the Minority Community increased to 859 Crore from 570 Crore last year. This is highest ever allocation for the welfare of minorities in not only state, but any other states in the country. This year allocation of funds for the minorities welfare is even greater than those meant for backward class, schedule caste and other backward castes. For 2013-14 Rs. 523.24 Crore has been allocated for the Backward Class Department.
This is first time a state allocated more than Rs 235 crore for a State run Aliah university, which is a state run minority institution. Last year, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had sanctioned 29 Acre land for the Aliah University at Rajarhat-New Town area of Salt Lake in Kolkata.
Mamata also declared that besides Haj Tower of West Bengal a 20 story building of Aliah University to be build. Already under the State Government run organization Hooghly River Bridge Commission has announced a tender to construct the said building with modern facilities.
Now after announcement of 235.19 Crore for Aliah University Campus, minority students will get scholarships as well. Besides monthly scholarships to the weaker section of the Minority community, a bicycle to the girls students will also be given.
Further, economically weaker section (EWS), Backward Classes and minorities, those below the poverty line (BPL) will benefit from housing schemes under the ‘Gitanjali’ and ‘Amar Thikana’ project. "Till December 2012, funds have been released for the construction of almost 34,000 houses in rural areas. Under the ‘Gitanjali’ scheme, construction of 1,328 flats in the semi-urban areas has also started. It is expected that an expenditure of around Rs. 570 Crore would be made under these two schemes in the current financial year. I propose to provide plan outlay of Rs. 679 Crore to the Housing Department in the next financial year," Amit Mitra announced in the state assembly.
State Finance Minister Amit Mitra started his budget speech with a poem of the popular Bengali poet Kazi Nazrul Islam. During the budget speech he also narrated a a couplet of Mirza Ghalib, “Umr Bhar Ghalib/ Yehi Bhool Karta Raha/ Dhool Chehre Par Thi/Aur Aaina Saaf Karta Raha”.
About the minorities Amit Mitra said in his budget speech, "Our Government believes in empowering the massive minority population of the state by enriching their human capital and skill capacities. In the last budget, I had proposed to enhance pre-matric and post-matric scholarships for 10 lakh students studying in schools and madrasahs. You would be delighted to know that during this financial year an all-time record of 24 lakh scholarships have been given to minority students. To add to this, an incentive of Rs. 100 per month has been given to poor and distressed girl students from the minority community and this was availed by 1,05,726 girl students.1,60,002 bi-cycles were also provided to minority girl students."
He added that some financial support has also been given this year to the Imams and Muazzins for mobilizing their community for social welfare programmes like Pulse Polio Campaign, etc.
"Aliah University has received 20 acres of land at Rajarhat New Town Complex from HIDCO for campus extension. The campus will be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs. 235.19 Crore. During 2011-12 we were able to construct 161 boundary walls and this year (2012-13) we have built boundary walls for 429 grave yards at a combined cost of Rs. 33.20 Crore. Therefore, I propose to allocate to the Minority Affairs and Madrasah Education Department Rs. 859 Crore for the financial year 2013-14," he further said.