Funds lapsed, next instalment missed: IAS Study Centre for minorities remains on paper

The first instalment of Rs 1.75 crore reached Urdu Academy in October last year, but the was not utilised and lapsed at the end of 2014-15 financial year and the Academy missed the next instalment.

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However, chairman, Urdu Academy, Nawaz Deobandi claimed that everything has been put in place and in next week advertisement will be published for commencement of the study centre. “We took time but the IAS Study Centre will be soon a reality. In next week, we are going to start it,” Deobandi said.

After Akhilesh’s announcement, Urdu Academy had constituted a committee of retired bureaucrats for guidance on setting up the Study Centre. Several meetings were held for it and the recommendations were submitted to the Academy.

Deobandi brushed aside the fact that next instalment for the project has been missed while the first instalment lapsed. “We were doing things and slowly it will take shape. We don’t have a building for the centre still we are starting it, which is an achievement,” Deobandi claimed.

Deobandi, however, cited several achievements of Urdu Academy, which include among others reviving awards to Urdu littérateurs after three years, organising mushairas in universities, special mushaira for children and grant for publication of Urdu books.

Urdu Academy was set up in 1972 for development of Urdu language. It gives scholarships to students, reprints classic books, gives financial aid to old and needy Urdu poets and holds seminars and symposia for promotion of the language. It comes under Department of Language which is held by the Chief Minister.

Urdu Academy does not have a full time secretary as its present secretary Faiz Rehman also holds the charge as CEO of Sunni Central Board of Waqfs and director, Minority Welfare. “We have written several times to state government for a full time officer but have not got one,” Deobandi said.