Despite Jains getting minority status, kids denied benefits

Raj Sadosh

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Abohar, April 13

Even as the UPA government on January 20, 2014, awarded the “national minority” status to the Jain community, children have been denied benefits as none was issued the minority certificate.

Revenue minister Bikram Majithia announced at a Mahavir Jyanti function on April 23, 2013 that the state had accorded minority status to the Jain community. A notification in this regard was issued by the state department of home affairs and justice on April 22.

The minority status accorded to the Jain community by the Union Government was expected to benefit a number of students who come from economically weaker sections. Abohar Nambardar and Right to Information activist Stinu Jain today sent emails to Union Minister for Minority Affairs Najma Heptullah and Punjab Minorities Commission chairman Munawwar Masih. He alleged certificates were not being issued to children from the Jain community because of which they couldn’t benefit from the newly acquired status. “We expected that the minority status will open up new avenues for students, but the government has let us down,” he said. He demanded that bilingual certificates be issued to the children. Leader of the Opposition Sunil Jakhar said the Jain community’s demand for minority status was almost a century-old.

“A lot of hue and cry was raised when the UPA government issued the notification in 2014 to give Jain community the minority status. It is unfortunate that the state has not streamlined the process to issue certificates even after two years,” he added.