The Ministry of Minority Affairs on Saturday launched its ambitious ‘Nai Manzil’ (new destination) scheme with a target to bridge the academic and skill development gaps between the passouts of madrassas and their mainstream counterparts. launching the scheme in the poll bound Bihar, Union Minority Welfare Affairs Minister Najma Heptulla said the scheme has been launched in Bihar because most of the madrassas are in Bihar and UP and most of the minority concentrated blocks are also located in these two States.
She said under the programme 2,000 students of madrasas would be provided skill training. The scheme was flagged off by Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in his Budget last year with an aim to facilitate the admission of madrasas passout in mainstream educational institutions.
“Madrasas are entirely based on religious education so this is one manzil (destination) for the students who will get skill development and it will also be a bridge course for other education,” Heptulla said while referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s oft repeated thinking that madrasa students should carry a Quran in one hand and a computer in the other. “The PM intends to give them skills along with their religious education,” she added.
As per the scheme those finish course from madrasas will be able to get opportunity in the job market after skill development training. The Government intends to set up accredited study centres with tie up with Aligarh Muslim University, Jamia Millia Islamia and other Muslim institutions of higher education.
The Government has strategically selected Bihar to launch this scheme in view of the coming Assembly election and in its bid to attract the Muslims.
Heptulla said in the Budget six schemes were related to Minority Affairs Ministry and all of them have been implemented successfully. “This shows the sincerity of our government for the welfare and development of the minorities,” she said.
later talking to media she said a number of new programmes for the minorities have been started. To a question why PM Modi dislikes wearing a cap or participating in Iftar parties, Heptulla said, “Yes, he does not put up a topi but he is working to provide roti (bread) to the minorities. Other governments only wanted to see that Muslim wear cap and keep their eyes closed but our government has launched many schemes to provide jobs opportunities to them,.”