Reviews implementation of Bezbaruah Committee report
Agencies
New Delhi, February 12
The Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, Kiren Rijiju has mooted transit camp accommodation exclusively for the people of the North-Eastern Region (NER) in metropolitan and other major cities. Presiding over a high-level inter-ministerial meeting here today to review the implementation of the Bezbaruah Committee report on safety and other concerns of the NER-origin people living in the national capital and other major cities across rest of the country, Rijiju directed the Secretary, Ministry for Development of North-Eastern Region (DoNER) Shri R. Vijaykumar to initiate a proposal for provision of separate budget allocation for this specific purpose. It was informed in the meeting that the setting up of exclusive hostels for NER-origin students has been fast-tracked in JNU and Ramanujan College in Delhi and that other Delhi University colleges including Hindu, Khalsa and Dayal Singh College have already identified land for such hostels. Rijiju asked the DoNER Ministry to coordinate with the Urban Development Ministry to expedite the process.
Rijiju expressed satisfaction that the NCERT has already initiated a review of CBSE textbooks for Classes 6 - 12th to include chapters on the NER geography, history and cultural diversity. The Minister asked HRD Ministry officials to explore and suggest similar revision in textbooks to various state governments for their inclusion in the state boards’ curriculum. UGC officials said 10,000 fellowships have been introduced for students of NER States and that can be availed for study anywhere in India. UGC has also taken a decision to institute a chair in different universities on the NER.
Rijiju expressed concern that recruitment of NER people in the Delhi Police had not really taken off. Delhi Police officers explained that the rigorous physical and educational qualifications have become a hurdle and a review is underway to relax the criteria for NER-origin people.
Sports Ministry officials said about Rupees 100 crores have already been allocated for upgradation of Sports facilities in Imphal and another Rs. 25 crores will be provided by March. The draft Bill for setting up a National Sports University is ready while the Manipur State Government has already acquired bulk of land at Thoubal district and the university is likely to start admissions for the next academic session, 2015-16.
Rijiju directed that a short compendium of all initiatives undertaken by various ministries be compiled soon and circulated to all NER State Governments and the media for wider publicity so that more and more people can be apprised of the various welfare schemes to avail of the benefits.
Senior officers of the Union Ministries of HRD, Culture, I&B and Sports & Youth Affairs, besides the Delhi Police and Resident Commissioners of North-Eastern States participated in the meeting.
