Helpline for minorities to be launched soon: India

Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh :

The long awaited 24-hour helpline for victims of police excesses and discrimination from minority communities will soon be a reality, Abid Rasool Khan, chairman of the AP State Minorities Commission (APSMC) told STOI on Saturday.

The helpline, along with other recommendations of the previous APSMC led by Yousuf Qureshi, has been in the pipeline in for a little over four years. With the reconstitution of the commission only last week, many of these recommendations are likely to be reviewed and a decision pertaining to their implementation will be taken. “The setting up of the 24-hour helpline will be one of our top priorities. We have spoken to a few individuals from non governmental organisations (NGOs) and activists to assist in making the helpline operational. The wheels have been set in motion and the helpline should be operational in around 15 days. The first meeting will be held on Friday,” said Khan.
Further, sources from the minorities welfare department said that APSMC has received around 15 applications pertaining to various issues such as alleged denial of government jobs despite the candidate having scored more than other selected candidates and refusal of police officials to book complaints. The latest case pertains to a dowry related issue in which a woman from Syed Nagar in the Old City was allegedly burnt to death by her husband for having refused to comply with his demands for more dowry.

According to Khan, the APSMC has been allotted office space in the A-Block in the secretariat. A website which will record the number of cases the commission will also be launched. Apart from the planned budget, around Rs 10 lakh has been sanctioned for setting up the APSMC. The commission comprises of an equitable representation of individuals from various minority communities and includes Rev Dr PNS Chandra Bose, Syed Maqbool Hussain Basha, Dr Hassan Qurratualain, Prabha Elizabeth Joseph, Sardar Sarjit Singh and Goutham Jain.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Hyderabad / TNN / May 26th, 2013

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