Date:28/11/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/11/28/stories/2007112861801500.htm

National

“Portfolio for Muslim welfare soon”

Special Correspondent

MUMBAI: Maharashtra will be implementing all the recommendations of the Sachar Committee and will establish a separate portfolio for Muslim welfare in the State government, according to Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh.

Mr. Deshmukh told the State Legislative Council on Monday evening that the government would follow the decision of the Union government to give scholarships to Muslim students as recommended by the Sachar Committee, said an official press note here on Tuesday.

The Council is in session in Nagpur. The Chief Minister said the government would also consider if the Muslims could be given reservation in housing societies and also residential premises built by the state housing corporation.

He said the government would take a policy decision on the question of providing jobs to Muslims only after getting a report from the State Minorities Commission.

The government would also take a decision about teaching Marathi in Urdu medium schools with a view to enabling Muslims get high position jobs.

Mr. Deshmukh said the government had included 44 Muslim castes in OBCs and nomadic tribes. The Chief Minister was responding to a debate on the implementation of the Sachar Committee’s report raised by the Congress and NCP members.