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Union Govt.'s minority scholarships to be given to all
eligible students: Salman Khursheed
AFMI’s XVIII Convention on Education concludes in Indore
Indore, January 04 (Pervez Bari): Salman Khursheed, the Union Minister of
State for Corporate & Minority Affairs (Independent Charge), has announced
that from next year the Government of India's minority scholarships will be
given to one and all who are eligible. The rules and regulations are being
amended for this and cent per cent minority scholarships will be distributed
from next academic session. The amount earmarked for the minorities as such
would not be allowed to relapse.
This announcement was made by Salman Khursheed in the opening session on the
last day of the two-day XVIII Annual International Convention on Education &
Gala Award Ceremony of the American Federation of Muslims of Indian Origin, (AFMI),
here in Indore, the commercial capital of Madhya Pradesh, at Ravindra Natya
Grah on Sunday.
Over 100 meritorious students, who have achieved educational excellence in
Std. X and Std. XII Board examinations in 20 states of India, were felicitated
with Gold, Silver and Bronze medals on the occasion. The No.1 student to score
over all others from across India was Ayesha Haroon Rashid Tamboli who
obtained 99.99% in the Maharashtra Board Std. X examinations. Apart from the
medals each student received a scholarship of Rs. 5,000/- and in case of need
was assured for further scholarships.
The other achievers in the SSC (Grade 10) category were: 2. M. Sumaiya
Thasneem (98.20%),Tamil Nadu; 3. Sarwar Hasib (97.14%), Orissa; 4. Hasnain
Rangwala (96.40%) Madhya Pradesh and 5. Saleha Iqbal Hussain (96.40%),
Rajasthan.
The top five students in the HSC (Grade 12) category who were felicitated
included: 1. M. Syed Khaleel Awn (98.58%), Tamil Nadu; 2. Almas Nazim Sayed
(98.50%), Maharashtra; 3. Sana Firdouse (97.50%), Andhra Pradesh; 4. Nazrin
P.S. (96.50%) Kerala and 5. C.M. Akbar Ali (96%), Karnataka.
Expressing happiness Khursheed said it gives great pleasure to see that in the
pursuit of spreading education everywhere someone or the other is doing his
bit to ignite the light of knowledge. However, he said, there still remains
much to be done to extricate the Muslim community from the quagmire of
illiteracy and poverty. "We have recognized our path on which we have to tread
but the goal is still far ahead", he remarked.
He made an appeal that Muslims should strive hard in every field to excel in a
big way to make a lasting impression in India as AFMI has done in the USA and
Canada. The aim of the Muslim youth should not be just to enter into jobs but
they run an extra mile to prove their invincibility and make dedication,
honesty and the will to march ahead with time and succeed as their hallmark.
There should be no inferiority complex in Muslim youth, he cautioned.
When someone from the audience send a slip to remind Khursheed that Govt. of
India’s minority scholarship has not been distributed by the Bharatiya Janata
Party ruled Gujarat Government proclaiming that it did not have funds to put
in its share, he assured to find some other ways to help the students of that
state.
He revealed that after 90 districts with 25 per cent Muslim population which
have been earmarked for special development by Government of India the next
step would be to uplift the districts with 15 per cent Muslim population.
He also revealed that amendment in the Central Waqf Act is in the pipeline to
streamline its management to boost income which is at present in very bad
state. The Waqf amendment bill has gone to the Union Law Ministry to make it
more stringent so that encroachers of the property are unable to grab it and
hold on to it in future. In the National Minority Finance Corporation a Waqf
development agency is being created to develop Waqf properties freed from
encroachers on turnkey basis.
Khursheed informed that he has been interacting with the Union HRD Minister
Kapil Sibal and in two-three months time some good news about the minority
character of Aligarh Muslim University and Jamia Millia Islamia University is
likely to emerge.
Prof. A. A. Abbasi, former Vice Chancellor of Indore University, speaking on
the occasion said that in cities awareness about importance of education has
increased and now time has come to turn our attention and energies towards
rural areas and open schools in villages to educate Muslims there.
Mrs. Abida Inamdar of Azam Campus Pune, said action is needed and not
conferences, workshops, conventions, seminars etc. Our target should be that
in next five years no child is left out from being imparted education. “Think
globally but act locally”, she remarked.
Dr. Aslam Abdullah, Trustee AFMI and Director of Islamic Institute of Las
Vegas-Nevada-USA, who compeered the program, said the AFMI people have come
not to guide people here in India and what to do and how to do but to unload
their debt which the community had spend on them when they were studying here.
He said that 600 million dollars are being spend on education in India by the
NRIs from the USA, Canada, Middle East, Australia etc. but its results are not
quite visible as they should have been. This is due to non-coordination and
controversies which are the trademarks of Muslim society.
Dr. A. R. Nakadar, Trustee AFMI, said: “Jo Desh Apne Bachchon Ki Tarbiyat
Nahin Karta Who aage Nahin Badhta; Jo Samaj Apne bachchon Ki Hosla Afzaee Nahi
Karta padhayee Mein Woh Backward Rahta Hai Aur Jo family Bachchon Ko Taleem Se
Mahroom Rakhti Hai Woh Hamesha Ghareeb Rahti Hai”.
DR. Nakadar, a cardiologist who hails from Gujarat but is settled in the
suburbs of Detroit-MI-USA, said the spectacular performance of the students
who were felicitated in the convention reveals that there is a need to
encourage and inspire the best and the brightest students of the community.
AFMI has been doing just that since the inception of its awards program 19
years ago. When AFMI first sought applications there were very few students
who would cross the 80 percent mark. But 19 years later many students are not
guaranteed a medal even if they have scored more than 90 percent due to tough
competition from their colleagues.
Dr. Iqbal Ahmed from Cleveland area of Ohio in the USA, the incoming president
of AFMI for 2010 hailing from Malerkotla in Punjab, defining Islam in a
nutshell said it is the development of one’s inner-self, under the guidance of
Holy Qur’an and Hadith, and exploration of the creation of the universe
through education. He said that when one is born one is illiterate and poor
but has the potential to acquire knowledge and thereby overcome one’s poverty.
Dr. Iqbal appreciated India’s “Sarva Shiksha Abhyan” (United Nation’s
Education for All) and suggested that a board be formed for creating awareness
among Muslims towards various schemes conducted by the Union and state
governments for minorities.
Others who spoke on the occasion included law maker & ex-minister Bala
Bachchan, Justice (Retd.) A. G. Qureshi, Madhya Pradesh Minorities Commission
secretary O. F. Khatani, Madhya Pradesh Youth Congress president Jeetu Patwari,
The two-day program was jointly hosted by Rahat Charitable Trust, Khargone (M.P.)
and Taleem Foundation of Madhya Pradesh. The next AFMI convention i.e. the XIX
edition will be held in Ahmadabad in December 2010.
Delegates from the United States, Canada and all over India attended the AFMI
convention. The delegates reaffirmed their dedication to the cause of
education in India and promised to do their best in furthering AFMI’s goal of
bringing in the light of literacy to each and every Muslim home in India.
At the outset Maulana Aqueel Shaikh recited verses from the Holy Qur'an. The
vote of thanks was proposed by Shakir Mukhi.
In the next session the former and present awardee students were given an
opportunity to exchange their views about educational and career experiences.
How were they motivated by the AFMI's educational excellence programme?
On Saturday AFMI's Sir Syed Award 2009 for contributions to the education of
Indian Muslims was presented to Mumbai-based educationist Mubarak Kapdi. While
AFMI's Meer Taqi Meer Award 2009 which was to be presented to noted poet and
littérateur Pt. Anand Mohan Zutshi 'Gulzar' Dehlvi for contributions to Urdu
literature could not be given as he failed to be present on the occasion due
to ill health. The award shall be sent to his home. Both the awards carried a
citation, a crystal plaque, and 30,000 rupees.
The AFMI, which is a philanthropic charity organization founded by American
Muslims of Indian Origin, has come a long way since its inception in 1989. As
a grass roots based organization it has been working towards the goal of
attaining 100 percent literacy and the elimination of poverty in the Indian
Muslim community. (pervezbari@eth.net)
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