Tarique Anwar, BeyondHeadlines
New Delhi: A delegation of Muslim MPs lead by K. Rahman Khan, deputy chairman, Rajya Sabha (upper house), met Montek Singh Ahluwalia, deputy chairman, Planning Commission, and other members and discussed proper allocation of funds and effective implementation of various schemes meant for the minorities, to be included in the 12th Five Year Plan, under the light of Sachar Committee Report.
The delegation comprising 20 Muslim MPs urged the Planning Commission to make scholarship schemes demand driven, bring down multi-sectoral development programme (MSDP) parameter to 15 percent from existing 25 percent, bring down the MSDP to block level rather than district level and create institutional mechanism to develop wakf properties, which can generate sufficient funds to be used for the development of the Community.
The Planning Commission assured the delegation to not only consider the points raised by the delegation but also said that these points will be put before Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh for consideration so that these could be included in the 12th Five Year Plan.
The Planning Commission further added that a comprehensive note should be submitted by Muslim MPs to design inclusive and effective policies.
E. Ahmed, Ali Anwar Ansari, Kesar Jahan, Mohammad Azharuddin, Mahmood Madani, A. S. Malihabadi, Mohammad Adeeb, S.K. Saidul Haque, Sabir Ali, Asrarul Haque Quasmi, Syed Azeez Pasha, among others were part of the delegation.
