Director – Higher Education Abu Imran, including other bureaucrats, academicians and experts present during the State level Educational Convention and Gala Award Ceremony – 2018 on Monday urged to the students and members of minority communities to stay away from political polarization and focus on their goals.
Experts opined that only ‘Education’ can change their respective families’ status ensuring overall development of the specific minority community, they belong to. The delegates were speaking during the programme organised annually by American Federation of Muslim of Indian Origin (AFMI) – USA and Canada in association with Friends of Weaker Society, Ranchi to felicitate the young talents of minority groups who have achieved distinction in State Board examination, CBSE and ICSE exams.
Abu Imran, Director – Higher Education said that due to the negligent approach until now and apathy of Muslim leaders in creating apt environment for promoting education among the minority community members, in Jharkhand alone merely two to three per cent students of minority communities get the privilege to receive higher education. He further held feeble guardianship responsible for not able to convince the children to pursue education with utmost seriousness.
Imran added that due to several myths and political polarization, the people of minority communities are still lagging behind. “Leaders of other communities do establish institutions but very few leaders from the minority communities’ side take an initiative to bring change in education system or else establish institutes of excellence. Pity politics, focus on small issues have drained the real issues,” Imran stated.
Further, during the career counseling session, Imran, an Alma Mater of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) asked the students to focus on new career options and encouraged the students to opt for legal studies and other vocational subjects apart from the evergreen career options – Medical and Engineering stream.
In addition, IPS officer, Mohammad Arshi emphasised on the fact that being religious does not mean being communal. “According to me, people who are actually more religious are the ones who are secular,” said the senior IPS Officer. Arshi backed for adopting ‘Mix-Culture’ concept and encouraged the audiences to embrace the culture of other sects to widen their knowledge sphere. He advised the parents to share their insights and develop friendly equation with the kids.
Arshi stressed on adopting different methodologies to groom ones personality and develop self-confidence to achieve the desired goals in life. “Do not underestimate yourself or rather compare yourself with others. Change in outlook, fostering of hobby, good listener, keen observer, strong moral foundation are the qualities that aids the students to achieve great heights in life,” Arshi added.
Similarly, Vice-Chancellors (VCs) of different State-owned universities underlined different facts about the importance of linking oneself with the modern education system, new age technology and numerous government schemes meant for the students of minority groups for their overall progress.
During the concluding ceremony, Minister – Welfare, Minority Affairs, Dr. Louis Marandi assured to remove all stumbling blocks creating hurdles in ensuring the growth of the minorities. Marandi on the occasion promised to introduce more welfare schemes and scholarship programmes for the minority community students. The Minister too encouraged the members of minority community to support girls’ in realising their dreams, aspirations.
In the presence of several dignitaries, around 233 talented students received the monetary assistance. Top 10 candidates got a cheque of Rs. 3,000 each while other meritorious students received a cheque of Rs. 1,500 each. Till date, 4,500 minority students have received the scholarship assistance from these umbrella organisations since 2008.