Minority welfare schemes being regularly monitored: Khurshid

October 5th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Minority Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid Monday said a bill to streamline the functioning of Wakf boards across the country is in its final stage and will be introduced in the winter session of parliament. The ministry of law has given its final shape to it (the draft bill for amending the Wakf Act, 1999).

September 4th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, will inaugurate a two-day Conference of State Welfare/Social Justice Ministers here today.

August 31st, 2009 NEW DELHI - Infrastructure Leasing and Financial Services Ltd (IL&FS), a leading infrastructure development and finance company, will be the new promoter of Maytas Infra, union Minister for Corporate Affairs Salman Khurshid announced Monday. "IL&FS will be the new promoter of Maytas Infra following an order of the CLB (Company Law Board)," Khurshid told reporters here.

August 15th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Saturday said the government was fully committed to the well-being of the minorities and had started many schemes for their welfare. We do not subscribe to the view that to take special care of the deprived sections of the society amounts to appeasement.

July 24th, 2009 NEW DELHI - If learning Urdu and understanding the rich literary heritage written in the language was on your mind, then here is your chance -- the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) Friday announced a certificate programme to popularise the language. Launched by Minister of State for Corporate and Minority Affairs Salman Khurshid, the course is meant for those who want to know how to read, write and speak correct Urdu.

July 24th, 2009 NEW DELHI - An ombudsman will be appointed to ensure that welfare schemes like the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme are implemented properly, Minister of State for Rural Development Agantha Sangma said here. She said on the sidelines of a function late Thursday that an ombudsman kind of system was being developed to ensure accountability and transparency in government-run welfare schemes.

July 13th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The government has increased the budgetary allocation to the minority affairs ministry by Rs.740 crore for the year 2009-10 to address the educational and economic backwardness of the Muslim community, Minister Salman Khurshid said Monday. "The plan provisions for the ministry has been enhanced from Rs.130.89 crore in 2006-07 to Rs.500 crore in 2007-08, Rs.1,000 crore in 2008-09 and Rs.1,740 crore for the year 2009-10, Khurshid told the Rajya Sabha in a written reply.

July 13th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Minority Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid Monday told parliament that the government is committed to establishing an Equal Opportunity Commission and is examining the recommendations of the expert group regarding its structure and functions. "An Equal Opportunity Commission will be set up by the government.

July 13th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Minority Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid Monday said the home ministry had issued guidelines to address communal issues. "Guidelines on communal harmony have been issued by the ministry of home affairs, Khurshid told the Rajya Sabha while replying to a question related to the steps taken by the government to address the socio-political issues of the minority community.

July 9th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The government will provide Rs.185 crore (Rs.1.85 billion) as loans during the current financial year for income generating activities to help individuals from minority communities living in abysmal poverty, the Lok Sabha was told Thursday. Minority Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid Thursday said the National Minorities Development and Finance Corporation (NMDFC) will disburse the amount to 79,860 beneficiaries living below double the poverty line.

July 6th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The budget has increased the outlay for the minority affairs ministry from Rs.1,000 crore last fiscal to Rs.1,740 crore with a focus on educational schemes. The funds have been hiked to implement projects for the welfare of the minorities, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee announced while presenting the union budget Monday.

July 4th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Corporate Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid Saturday said he was not in favour of mandatory reservation in the private sector, maintaining that the government's thrust on inclusive growth will comprehensively address the larger issue of affirmative action. "Empowering and capacity building is the answer and not reservations," Khurshid told reporters on the margins of a conference organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) here.

June 11th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Minister of State for Minority Affairs Salman Khurshid Thursday said the government was considering giving constitutional status to the National Minorities Commission and would decide on reservation for Muslims after studying the Andhra Pradesh and Kerala models. We want to give the minorities commission a constitutional status and will try our best for that, Khurshid told reporters after a meeting with the commission members.

May 2nd, 2009 JAIPUR - Congress president Sonia Gandhi Friday said various leaders, who claim to be prime ministerial candidates, are 'power hungry' and are 'least bothered' about the welfare of the people. 'Every leader of these fronts seems to be hungry for power and least bothered about welfare of the country and people.

April 24th, 2009 JETPUR - The Narendra Modi-led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Gujarat has been taking credit for the success of the schemes floated by the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government, All India Congress Committee (AICC) President Sonia Gandhi said Friday. 'The BJP government in Gujarat is claiming many of the UPA government schemes as its own and receiving praises for the same.