Year 2012 witnesses as minorities welfare year

Bhopal: During the year 2012, a number of important decisions were taken for minorities’ welfare and facilities for them were increased. During the outgoing year, initiative was taken to construct Haj Houses at Bhopal and Indore while work is also progressing fast in other minority institutions including Waqf Board.
This year, Madhya Pradesh became the first state to computerise details of over 15 thousand Waqf properties. In its annual report, Waqf, New Delhi declared Madhya Pradesh Waqf Board as the best board in digitisation of records. Besides ensuring better education of minorities, scholarships were distributed to minority students exceeding target. Two embarkation points were established for Haj pilgrimage at Indore and Bhopal. Process to construct Haj Houses at both the places was expedited. The arrangements made by Madhya Pradesh government for Haj pilgrims were lauded by the Central Haj Committee and Government of Saudi Arabia. The National Minorities Commission also lauded effective initiatives taken for minorities’ welfare in Madhya Pradesh and wrote a congratulatory letter to this effect.
During the outgoing year, the State Government allocated adequate funds for the construction of Haj Houses at Bhopal and Indore for the convenience of Haj pilgrims. Haj House at Bhopal will be constructed on 2.01 acre land at village Singarcholi at a cost of Rs. 6 crore 11 lakh.
During the year, quota of Haj pilgrims was also increased by the Union Government on the initiative of Madhya Pradesh government. Earlier, a quota of 3,169 was sanctioned. The Union Government also sanctioned to send 1,165 pilgrims, who were on the waiting list, to complete the pilgrimage. Thus, a total of 4,117 Haj pilgrims were sent from Madhya Pradesh during the outgoing year. Besides, mobile SIM cards for use in Saudi Arabia were also made available to all the pilgrims.
The Madhya Pradesh government took the initiative to institute awards for talented students in the names of famous personalities of minority community including Shaheed Ashfaque Ullah Khan award for social service, Captain Hameed award for respect to all religions and Dr. Abul Kalam Azad award for Urdu literature. The State Government also increased budgets for minorities institutions by Rs. 55 crore. The same year offices of Backward Classes and Minorities Welfare Department were also opened in all the districts.