Guwahati: The Assam government will set up 21 model residential schools in 21 districts of the state to provide an impetus to the development of minorities.

This was decided in a high-level meeting here on Friday, with chief minister Sarbananada Sonowal directing the commissioner and secretary, minorities welfare department, Rajesh Prasad, to make the model schools a trendsetter to expedite the socio-economic and educational development of the minorities in the state.

To be set up under the Multi-Sectoral Development Programme for minority concentration blocks-towns, the model schools will be situated in 21 districts.
The state government has already earmarked land for the purpose. Approximately Rs 30.42 crore has been sanctioned for each school and the chief minister has asked the department’s authorities to develop a centralised system for expeditious implementation of the programme, including its monitoring.

Budget provision for the programme has been made through supplementary demand for the construction of these residential schools, the chief minister added.

The districts where the schools will be set up are Kamrup, Nalbari, Barpeta, Goalpara, Kokrajhar, Chirang, Dhubri, South Salmara, Darrang, Biswanath, Morigaon, Nagaon, Cachar, Karimganj, Hailakandi, Bongaigaon, Dima Hasao, Karbi Anglong, North Lakhimpur, Sonitpur and Udalguri.

Sonowal also reviewed the activities pertaining to the welfare of the minorities in the state. During 2017-18, altogether 4,200 pilgrims from the state attended Haj. The government has also approved a provision for vice-chairman of the Assam Minorities Development Board by amending the rules. The Omeo Kumar Das Institute of Social Change and Development has been given Rs 22.5 lakh for the survey.

Sonowal asked the commissioner and secretary to ensure expeditious distribution of solar home lights, e-rickshaw, tractors and Tara pumps to the minority beneficiaries. He asked the commissioner to fill up posts in the minority commission, linguistic minority board, Wakf Board and others.

(Source: telegraphindia)