UK Cabinet nod to madarsa board

OTHER DECISIONSn Separate directorate for minority affairs to be formedn Area of spending under the MLALAD fund increasedn The Uttarakhand Urban Street Vending and Business on Pavement (Regulation and Management) Rules, 2011, approvedn Nagar panchayat status to Purola and Gairsainn Free bus travel for girls in government busesn Award of Rs 50,000 for students getting admission to prestigious medical, management and engineering institutions

Dehradun, November 22

At the third Cabinet meeting held in November, the Uttarakhand Government gave its approval to the creation of a madrasa board, a separate directorate for minority affairs, an increase in the area of spending under the MLA local area development (MLALAD) fund along with the Uttarakhand Urban Street Vending and Business on Pavements (Regulation and Management) Rules, 2011.

At a press briefing held last night, Chief Secretary Subash Kumar said the Muslim Education Mission would be merged with the new board. This would sort out the problem of 500 madarsas and their issue of affiliation. The board would comprise a total of 13 officials, including the director, chief registrar and the accountant.

The government also gave its approval to the creation of a separate minority affairs directorate that would play a role in the implementation of the minority welfare schemes. The main office of the directorate, which is to be located in Dehradun, would have the services of 11 officers, including the director.

The Uttarakhand Urban Street Vending and Business on Pavement (Regulation and Management) Rules, 2011, approved by the Cabinet call for demarcating separate space for vendors and also allowing them to do business legally. It will be implemented in three Municipal Corporations of the state.

Now, under the MLA LAD fund, the MLAs would be able to allocate Rs 10 lakh towards equipping yoga centres and fitness centres by the Yuva Mandal Dals as also towards providing office furniture for the Mahila Mangal Dals.

In another important decision, the Cabinet also gave its nod to according the nagar panchayat status to Purola and Gairsain and also gave approval for making “nazul” land free hold on the basis of the rates that prevailed in 2000.

The Cabinet approved the populist announcements made by Chief Minister BC Khanduri in early November, including free bus travel for girls in government buses, award of Rs 50,000 for those students getting admission to the prestigious medical, management and engineering institutions.

To further improve the government’s image and usher in transparency, the Cabinet also gave approval to signing an agreement between the government and the parties undertaking supplies and other works to ensure no bribes are taken.