Udupi: Education is a catalyst for social change and quality education helps create responsible citizens, said Karnataka State Minorities Commission (KSMC) chairperson U Nisar Ahmed.
He was speaking at a review meeting on the implementation of the Prime Minister’s New 15-Point Programme for minorities at the deputy commissioner’s office on Wednesday. Referring to his visit to govt schools on Tuesday, he said some institutions had only 25 to 30 students. The district has 1,522 anganwadis , including 155 catering to minorities. He called for better facilities at the district’s 15 schools for children with disabilities and wider publicity for the PM SVANidhi scheme. About 5,500 street vendors have already been registered in the district.
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Improving the quality of education and providing adequate infrastructure were essential to increase enrolment, he said. Ahmed said eligible candidates from these communities should be encouraged to apply for the posts of anganwadi workers and helpers. Toolkits should be distributed to registered workers in the presence of local representatives, he said.
Ahmed directed officials to ensure that no child from the Muslim, Christian, Sikh, Jain, Buddhist or Parsi communities was deprived of education. He also asked the deputy director of public instruction and block education officers to inspect schools regularly. Senior officials should verify children’s attendance and ensure the timely distribution of nutritious food to pregnant and lactating mothers, he added. He called for skill-development programmes for minority students at the district’s seven govt, four aided and one private Industrial Training Institutes. Officials were also asked to publicise overseas employment opportunities through the Overseas Employment Cell. Ahmed stressed the need to register unorganised workers under the e-Shram scheme and organise camps to issue identity cards to minority construction workers. Ahmed also reviewed agriculture, horticulture and bank loan schemes for minority communities and urged officials to expand awareness about them. He directed officials to maintain communal harmony and take legal action against social media content inciting communal sentiments. He directed police to submit details on such cases. DC Swaroopa TK was present. Download the TOI App.