Special development projects for Muslims in WB: Buddhadeb

They have to be brought at par with the majority sections in respect of development. If we do not do it,the state in general will remain underdeveloped,” the chief minister told a rally here in Murshidabad district.

He said the state government had taken up development schemes worth Rs 500 crore to improve education,health and drinking water supply to the people belonging to the minority community.

“We have taken up multi-sectoral development programmes for Muslim-inhabited areas of the state. Besides,anganwadi centres and health sub-centres would be built in these areas,” he said after launching the projects here.

Giving away scholarships to students of the minority community,Bhattacharjee said an amount of Rs 9.4 crore had been distributed as scholarships to more than 71,000 Muslim in the state.

The state government had also distributed Rs 36 crore to 35,000 Self-Help Groups of the district,he said and stressed on improving madrasa education.

“Madrasas should emphasise on modern education and the students there should learn English so that they can take up professional courses like management,engineering,medicine and computer education,” he said.