During his six-day long Israel visit, Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani has taken an important decision to give minority status to Jews community in the State.

Though the decision to give minority status to the miniscule community has been taken in principle, but notification in this regard will be issued after CM Rupani would return to Gandhinagar. 

The Gujarat Chief Minister decided to take the decision post his meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. It is worth mentioning that there is meagre population of 170 Jewish in the state and most of them have been residing in Gujarat’s commercial capital – Ahmedabad.

It is worth mentioning that two years back Jews people in the state made a representation to then Chief Minister Anandiben Patel for availing minority status. At that point of time, they were given assurance. Similar representation was made again in August last by the community members.

Meanwhile Netanyahu and Rupani had long discussion at Jerusalem on co-operation between Israel and Gujarat in agriculture, cyber security, water management and also in the field of innovation. Gujarat CM instantly accepted a suggestion of Israeli PM to form a joint working group to speed up co-operation in various sectors.

Both the leaders also discussed on apprentice program on higher technology in Israel for bright students in Gujarat. Rupani appreciated achievements of Israel in water management and the way the country is pacifying the need of water from limited resources. Israel’s water management model would be inspiration in Gujarat’s ongoing water revolution, said Rupani.

He also expressed willingness to replicate agriculture technology of Israel in Gujarat in order to improve productivity in agriculture. Rupani took keen interest in latest innovation in drip irrigation, digital farming, real time monitoring and smart analysis in agriculture sector to take maximum yield in adverse geographical conditions.