Excelsior Correspondent
NEW DELHI, Oct 5: Speaking as chief guest at “Jashn e-Usttad” organized by the Ministry of Minority Affairs, Dr Jitendra Singh ,Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Development of North-Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, said here today that the Narendra Modi Government believes in empowerment of minorities with dignity.
On the occasion,Dr Jitendra Singh also released a “Coffee Table Book” depicting traditional arts and crafts which are integrally linked to the minority communities of India. Union Minister of Minority Affairs Dr Najma Heptulla presided over the function while MoS Minority Affairs, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi was guest of honour. Union Secretary Minority Affairs, Arvind Mayaram was also present.
Dr. Jitendra Singh said, the basic Mantra of “Sab Ka Saath, Sab Ka Vikas” put forth by Prime Minister Modi soon after the government took over 16 months ago is symbolic and indicative of an agenda of inclusive growth envisaged by the present government.
Dr. Jitendra Singh said, traditional skills like “Papier Mache” of Kashmir, “Chikankari” of Lucknow, embroidery of Varanasi and handicrafts of Northeast have been, over the centuries, carried forward from one generation to another through a combined effort of all sections of Indian society with a notable contribution by the minorities of this country. Therefore, these skills richly deserve to be projected as the identities of the nation as a whole and the present initiative under Dr. Najma Heptulla has commendably achieved this purpose, he added.
The hallmark of the Modi government, Dr Jitendra Singh said, is that on the one hand, it could conceive and execute public welfare schemes like “Jan Dhan Yojana” which target the lowest of the lowest strata of society thus living up to Deendayal Upadhyay’s concept of “Antyodaya”, while on the other hand, it has made a conscious effort to promote skill development in all sections of society including the minorities thus making them proud participants in the “Make in India” mission.
Dr. Jitendra Singh said, the present initiative taken by the Ministry of Minority Affairs is an innovative attempt to amalgamate the present government’s “Make in India” and “Skill Development” programmes into the intrinsic chord of nation’s growth and transform them into means of providing self-esteem even to those sections of society which might have, during the earlier regimes, felt neglected or ignored.
Earlier, Union Minister Dr. Najma Heptulla, while welcoming the dignitaries, appreciated the enthusiastic response of public to the two-day exhibition cum fare beginning today.
Najma Heptulla referred to the various achievements of her Ministry during the first year of the government. These, she said, included MANAS (Maulana Azad National Academy for Skills), an initiative for promoting skill development by imparting training to the minority population. Similarly, on May 14, this year, she referred to the launching of USTTAD (Upgrading the Skills and Training in Traditional Arts / Crafts for Development) at Varanasi which is one of the main hubs of Arts and Crafts associated with the minorities. Another promising scheme titled ‘Nai Manzil’ was launched by her Ministry in August this year which intends to target school drop-outs, Madarsa-qualified students, etc. for enhancement of their education with skill training, she added.
Also present on the occasion were noted master craftsmen from all over the country.
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