 "We seek to empower madrasa students with education, skill: Heptulla")
Emphasising the Centre's "growth for all" vision, Union Minority Affairs Minister Najma Heptulla here today said that her ministry aims to engage the students in madrasas with education and skill development, so that they are not distracted by anything else.
"Last year in November, we launched the Maulana Azad National Academy for Skills (MANAS), and our Prime Minister has often laid emphasis on seeing a Quran in one hand of a madrasa student, and a computer in the other.
"And, in line with his vision and advice, I want to see a 'kalam' (pen) in one of their hands, and an 'auzar' (tool) in the other. So, that they become ideal Indians. And, so, that they don't have to think of anything else," Heptulla said.
The Union minister was speaking at the opening of an 'Inter-religious Seminar on Communal Harmony and Peace' organised by the All-India Catholic Union (AICU) at the India Islamic Centre.
At the programme, which was attended by a host of faith leaders from across the spectrum, Heptulla also condemned violence and terrorism being perpetrated in the name of religion.
"We see religion today being used to divide and kill people...But, no religion or messenger of god ever talked of killing people...And, India's unity in diversity is our treasure, and it has been so for ages.
"So, we need to have peace, amity, prosperity among us, and, if you ask two persons from different communities who their enemies are, they both will say poverty, backwardness ..." she said.
The minister said in the spirit of communal harmony, people from six notified communities are part of her ministry.
She said her government's aim, therefore, is to constantly strive to foster skill development and job creation among the youth, in consonance with the Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of 'Sabka Sath Sabka Vikas'.
"Last year in November, we launched the Maulana Azad National Academy for Skills (MANAS), and our Prime Minister has often laid emphasis on seeing a Quran in one hand of a madrasa student, and a computer in the other.
"And, in line with his vision and advice, I want to see a 'kalam' (pen) in one of their hands, and an 'auzar' (tool) in the other. So, that they become ideal Indians. And, so, that they don't have to think of anything else," Heptulla said.
The Union minister was speaking at the opening of an 'Inter-religious Seminar on Communal Harmony and Peace' organised by the All-India Catholic Union (AICU) at the India Islamic Centre.
At the programme, which was attended by a host of faith leaders from across the spectrum, Heptulla also condemned violence and terrorism being perpetrated in the name of religion.
"We see religion today being used to divide and kill people...But, no religion or messenger of god ever talked of killing people...And, India's unity in diversity is our treasure, and it has been so for ages.
"So, we need to have peace, amity, prosperity among us, and, if you ask two persons from different communities who their enemies are, they both will say poverty, backwardness ..." she said.
The minister said in the spirit of communal harmony, people from six notified communities are part of her ministry.
She said her government's aim, therefore, is to constantly strive to foster skill development and job creation among the youth, in consonance with the Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of 'Sabka Sath Sabka Vikas'.