CM adds Sheikh to OBC quota list

There are 20 lakh Sheikhs in Bengal

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday announced inclusion of 'Sheikh' community in reservation for Muslims in the OBC category, taking it to 17 per cent and claimed that her government had completed all the commitments given to minorities within 16 months of coming to power.

The Sheikhs comprise about 20 lakh among the 10 crore Muslim population in the state.

"Within 16 months of coming to power, I have fulfilled all the commitments that I made to the minorities for five years. Now, in the next four years we will plan and do newer things," she told at an event organised by Minority Affairs And Madrasah Education Department and West Bengal Minority Development Finance Corporation (WBMDFC).

Stating that her government has given Urdu the status of second language in blocks comprising over 10 per cent Urdu speaking population, Banerjee said similar steps have been taken for Hindi, Gurmukhi, Oriya, Nepali and Santhali.

"The budgetary allocation for the Minority Affairs department for the current year is likely to touch nearly Rs 1,000 crore from Rs 680 crore," she said.

Minority students would be trained to compete for IAS, IPS, WBCS, WBPS and other competitive examinations under UPSC and state PSC for social uplift, she said.

The completion of the Alliah University in the state at a cost of Rs 350 crore would help the minorities in the state, Banerjee said.

The Chief Minister said the CBI would investigate 14 cases of scams in Wakf properties during the tenure of the previous Left Front government and the remaining by the CID.

sops shower

Meanwhile, she gave away loans, scholarships and other benefits to minority students under different government schemes. She handed over the key of a taxi to one and offer letters to nine other beneficiaries of a new taxi loan scheme started by the WBMDFC.

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