Nagpur, Oct 8: Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan today

said the state ranks numero uno in the country for the implementation of schemes for minorities welfare and demanded more funds from the Centre for the uplift of minorities.

Speaking after inaugurating the Haj House here this evening, he said Maharashtra was the first state in the country to have had separate department for minorities, therefore, a separate budgetary provision for their welfare.

For the current fiscal year, the state has made a provision of Rs 275 crore in the budget, which will be increased in next year to Rs 350 crore, he said.

Briefing about different schemes implemented by the government for the welfare of minorities, he said that the government has chalked out a special package for development of minority in 100 districts across the state including Nasik, Thane and Nagpur.

For better implementation of different schemes, the state government wants Rs 500 crore funds from the Centre, he said.

Talking about Haj House, Mr Chavan said ”we have Haj house in Mumbai and now at Nagpur, which would be beneficial for the pilgrims of Haj from Vidarbha region and central India.

He said that Nagpur is known for Baba Tajuddin and pointed out that the government has sanctioned Rs 50 crore for the development of Tajbag area of the city.

Earlier, Haj Committee president Mohasina Kidwai said ”we will try to increase the quota of Haj pilgrims from Maharashtra especially Vidarbha region.” Union law minister Salman Khurshid and Union Social Justice Minister Mukul Wasnik also spoke on the occasion.

State Ministers Shivajirao Moghe, Nitin Raut, Rajendra Mulak, Arif Khan, MPs Vilas Muttemwar, Datta Meghe, Vijay Darda, MLAs Vikas Kumbhare, Dinanath Padole, Nilesh Parvekar, S Q Jama and Jainuddin Zaveri were also present on the occasion.

source: http;//www.newkerala.com/ Home> News> Maharashtra / UNI / October 08th, 2011