After launching several schemes like Ustaad in Uttar Pradesh and Nai Manzil in Bihar, Ministry of Minority Affairs is now looking at North-East for furthering its schemes.
Officials from the Ministry said that the focus will be on launching its schemes in Guwahati and Imphal where there is big population of minorities.
Minority Affairs Minister Najma Heptuallah who will be visiting the North-eastern States in late September said that her Ministry is planning to launch the second phase of all their schemes in the region.
“We have not decided on any specific date but our focus is North-East. There are big chunks on both Muslim and Christian populations across the seven States. We want to assimilate them into the mainstream,” said Heptullah to The Pioneer.
“Our officers are already identifying projects where we can train offer training to the minorities, both under our schemes — MANAS (Maulana Azad National Academy for Skills) as well as Nai Manzil. We shall launch our schemes in cities like Guwahati maybe end October,” she said.
An official said that the government is planning to set up a skill development academy in Guwahati by the end of this year.
“MANAS will focus on providing skills, upgrading abilities and training members of minority communities in those sectors of the economy which are either facing a shortage or labour or where demand for labour is expected to surge. MANAS will also train people so that they may be self-employed,” said the official.
“The Ministry is planning to educate the minorities in skills required for food processing, weaving, textile engineering to start with. The task force is also identifying other areas where the youth can be trained to help them become employable,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, Minister of State for Minority and Parliamentary Affairs, said that the Government is working towards maximising the reach of all its schemes.
“Schemes such as Jan Dhan Yojana, Pradhamnatri Suraksha Bima Yojana, Pradhanmantri Jivan Jyoti Bima Yojana, Atal Pension Yojana, Digital India, Make in India, Skill India, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, Mudra Bank are guarantee of inclusive growth of all the sections. These schemes will benefit poor people and minorities the most,” said Naqvi. “We will try to reach to all corners of the country to ensure that maximum people benefit from our schemes,” he said.