The empowerment of minorities, poor and the weaker sections was the "Raj Dharma" (duty) of the Narendra Modi government, Union Minister of State for Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said here on Thursday.
Addressing the "Progress Panchayat" at Bichor village in the Muslim-dominated Mewat district of Haryana -- considered one of the most backward regions in the state, Naqvi said our battle against poverty would benefit minorities, especially Muslims, the most as 75 per cent Muslims were living below poverty line.
He added that poverty was the biggest challenge before the Muslims and the biggest commitment of the Modi government was to battle poverty.
"We have to destroy the evil of discrimination and strengthen the social harmony in the society," he said.
"Empowerment of the last person of the society is our commitment. The Prime Minister has been moving forward to convert empowerment of poor into a reality," he added.
Informing people about schemes of the Minority Affairs Ministry, Naqvi said schemes such as "Seekho aur Kamaao", "Nai Manzil", "Nai Raushni", "Ustaad" and "Nai Udaan" were guarantee of empowerment of poor belonging to minority communities.
Besides, "Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram" (MsDP) has been providing basic amenities such as school, hospitals, roads and other infrastructure in minority-concentrated areas, he added.
"Employment to every hand is our commitment," he said.
Naqvi said that the Minority Affairs Ministry, in cooperation with the state governments, would build schools, colleges, malls, hospitals, skill development centres etc., and the revenue generated would be utilised for educational and other developmental activities for the Muslim community.
Multi-purpose community centres "Sadbhav Mandap" would also be constructed on waqf land which would be utilised for marriage ceremonies, exhibitions, sports/games and also relief centres during a calamity, the minister said.
Earlier, speaking on the occasion, Union Minister Rao Inderjeet Singh, who is a Lok Sabha member from adjoining Gurgaon, demanded rail connectivity to Mewat area, and also clean drinking water which was scarce in the region.
Earlier in the day, Naqvi inaugurated a 100-bed girls hostel in Hathin, staff quarters in Mewat Model School in Punhana Block, laid foundation stone of Higher Secondary School, Chilwali (Nuh) and also visited Mewat Model Girl school, Khanpur Ghati (Nagina).
--IANS
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