In a bid to give the socio-economic and educational development of the minorities a boost, State Government in association with Central Government would set up 21 model residential schools in the minority concentrated areas in 21 districts of the state.
Chairing a high-level meeting at the conference room of Chief Minister’s Office in Janata Bhawan on Friday, Chief Minister Sarbananada Sonowal directed Commissioner and Secretary, Minorities Welfare Department Rajesh Prasad to make the model schools a trend-setter to expedite the socio-economic and educational development of the minorities in the State.
It may be noted that the model schools to be set up under Multi-Sectoral Development Programme for minority concentration blocks-towns would be dotted in 21 places in as many as 21 districts and the Government of Assam has already earmarked plot of lands for the same.
Approximately Rs 30.42 crore has been sanctioned for each school and the Chief Minister has asked the concerned authority of Minorities Welfare Department to develop a centralised system for expeditious implementation of the programme including its monitoring.
Budget provision for the programme has already been made through supplementary demand for the construction of these residential schools, Chief Minister Sonowal added.
The districts selected for setting up of these model schools are Kamrup, Nalbari, Barpeta, Goalpara, Kokrajhar, Chirang, Dhubri, South Salmara, Darrang, Biswanath, Morigaon, Nagaon, Cachar, Karimganj, Hailakandi, Bongaigaon, Dima Hasao, Karbi Anglong, North Lakhimpur, Sonitpur and Udalguri.
Moreover, Sonowal also reviewed the activities pertaining to the welfare of the minorities in the state. It may be mentioned that during 2017-18, a total number of 4200 Hajis attended Haj from the state. A senior government officer was sent to Saudi Arabia to supervise the Haj operation during 2017-18 for the first time. A provision for Vice-Chairman of Assam Minorities Development Board has been approved by the government by amending the rules. The revised Haj Committee has been notified on February 14, 2018.
Further, under the direction of the Chief Minister new initiatives for socio-economic survey of char areas was undertaken after 14 years, stated in a Government press communiqué.
Rs 22.50 lakh has already been released to OKD to undertake the survey. Another Rs 50.00 lakh has been earmarked for the financial year 2018-19. Sonowal also asked Commissioner and Secretary Prasad to ensure expeditious distribution of solar home lights, E-rickshaw, tractors, tara pump etc to the minority beneficiaries. He also asked the Commissioner to initiate process to expeditiously fill up the posts in Minority Commission, Linguistic Minority Board, Wakf Board, etc.