As part of its various schemes launched to encourage development in minority communities, the Minorities Development Department of Maharashtra on Wednesday presented cheques at the felicitation function at the SNDT University.

The cheques were presented to 1,250 schools, 12 municipal corporations, 153 municipalities, 6669 minority students pursuing technical and professional studies.

Maharashtra Chief minister Ashok Chavan, Deputy Chief Minister Chaggan Bhujbal and other ministers presented the cheques.

The schools with more than 70 per cent students from minority communities have been sanctioned Rs 2 lakh each. The criterion that entitles a municipal corporation or municipality for the fund is that the town must house over 10 per cent minorities.

Students pursing higher education were given Rs 25,000 each. The department also plans to set up facilities for coaching of minority students for various competitive exams.

Chavan said, “We are very happy to be the first state to start such a thing for the minorities and we will increase the budget allotted if the department ensures that the funds reach the poor.”

Chaggan Bhujbal added, “The information about such schemes do not reach the remote villages in most cases, so I appeal to our non governmental organisations to create awareness about these schemes.”