ITANAGAR: Vice-Chairman of the National Commission for Minorities (NCM) H T Sangliana has urged Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Nabam Tuki to ensure formation of a state Commission for the minorities.
Sangliana, who called on Mr Tuki here on Friday evening gave a brief background of the Commission and asserted that certain provisions of the Commission can be beneficial to a state like Arunachal Pradesh.
As per Section 9(1) of the NCM Act, 1992, the Commission is required to perform functions like evaluation of the progress of the development of minorities; monitoring of the safeguards for minorities; making recommendations for effective implementation of safeguards for the protection of the interests of minorities, looking into specific complaints regarding deprivation of rights and safeguards of minorities and taking up such matters with the appropriate authorities.
The Vice-Chairman underscored the benefits of the Prime Minister’s New 15-Point Programme for welfare of minorities and said that once the state has its own minority commission, it can avail the benefits of the programme.
Mr Tuki informed him of the distinct pattern of the tribal populace of the state and sought to know the exact feasibility of a minority commission in context of Arunachal Pradesh, sources said.
He urged the Vice-Chairman to impress upon the Centre to implement the Multi Sectoral Development Programme (MsDP), which is a fully Centrally Sponsored Scheme for Minority Concentration Districts (MCDs) in Arunachal Pradesh. He informed that only seven districts had been identified for implementation of the programme, whereas due to its multi-tribe and scattered habitations, every district ought to be brought under its ambit. (UNI)