Vice chairman, National Commission for Minorities (NCM) Government of India, Dr. H.T Sangliana addressing a press conference at Secretariat Conference hall. Also seen is Chief Secretary Lalthara (Left).
Kohima, Apr 20 : Vice Chairperson of the National Commission for Minorities (NCM) Dr. HT Sangliana today said Nagaland should set up a State Commission for Minorities where a Christian member can be the chairperson or president and others can be members of the commission and facilitate annual general budget, subsidies, funds and scholarships.
Sangliana, who represents Christian community, is on tour in the seven northeastern states and is in-charge of three other states Orrisa, Jharkhand and Karnataka.
The vice chairperson disclosed to have had a series of meetings with the chief secretary and other government officials. He has proposed to them to form a commission. He said that the Ministry of minority affairs is concerned about the welfare of the minorities. Sangliana said the commission awards those who contribute towards promotion of communal harmony through articles or books. Any organization or individual belonging to NCM (the five communities) can be a part of the opportunity, he said. Therefore logically Nagas are minorities because Nagas are Christians and not because they are Nagas. He appealed the minority groups to know the schemes and programmes provided by the government of India and to avail them for their development.
Expressing contentment over the ‘communal harmony in the state’, Sangliana said minorities in other states are victims of humiliation and discrimination. ‘It is against the provision of the constitution and as such action can be taken by the NCM against the perpetrators. Replying to a query on formation of a minority commission in the state, Sangliana said he has yet to get specific response from the government.
The National Commission for Minorities was instituted in 1992 where five communities Buddhist, Muslim, Sikhs, Parsi and Christians were recognized. Under the act, the country is divided into 5 zones with the idea that one member will be assigned as member of the community to monitor work.
The Vice Chairman also met the different representatives of minority groups of the state. While interacting with different minority groups from Nagaland, which included the Sikhs, Muslims, Tibetans and Christians, he said that his coming to Nagaland was to make aware to the people of Nagaland the National Commission for Minorities. Ideas and opinions were shared by all groups during the interaction session with Dr. Sangliana. The Muslim community also submitted a memorandum to the Vice-Chairman, National Commission for Minorities. Chief Secretary Nagaland, DGP, Home Commissioner and Secretary Home were also present in the meeting.
With inputs from DIPR
