Madhya Pradesh State Minorities Commission (MPSMC) observed National Minorities’ Day here on Wednesday. The day is observed to protect rights of the minority communities as well as bringing the better understanding among religious minorities in India.
A symposium on Minorities’ Rights was held on the occasion at the MPSMC office. Commission state president Anwar Mohammed Khan presided the programme Commission member Father Anand Mutungal and Hafiz Juned besides some NGOs and large number of people were present on the occasion.
Khan speaking on the occasion said that the minority communities got universal recognition in the year 1992 when United Nations adopted as well as broadcasted Declaration on Rights of Persons who belong to National or Ethnic, Religious and linguistic Minorities but in India the provisions for recognition of minorities were made way back in 1951.
Khan further said, “The Central and State Government schemes for the minorities are very transparent and to in order to facilitate the minorities with the schemes the state and central government offices are at district levels.” He said that all the schemes could be accessed online also and the minorities could take advantage of them either by visiting the offices or through internet by applying online.
If the beneficiaries come across any difficulty or come across some problem then there are provisions for them to lodge complaints with the commission or in the concerned departments. Immediate action is taken to resolve the problems, he added. Notably, the day is celebrated because on December 18, 1992, United Nations adopted as well as broadcasted Declaration on Rights of Persons who belong to National or Ethnic, Religious and linguistic Minorities. The United Nations had declared that cultural, religious, linguistic and national identity of the minorities shall be protected by the states. The rights of these minorities shall be respected within the individual territories. The states shall also encourage the conditions for promotion of cultural, religious, linguistic and national identity.