Mangalore, Dec 16: Minister for minority welfare, Hajj, and Wakf Qamar-ul-Islam said that two acres of land had been identified at Kenjar close to the Mangalore International Airport for the construction of ‘Hajj Ghar’ and a sum of Rs 3.5 lac has already been released for the fencing of the identified land on Sunday December 15.
Addressing media persons at a press conference here on Sunday, he said that Hajj pilgrims from Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Chikmagalur, Hassan and Kodagu districts would be accommodated in the Hajj Ghar, which would be functional by 2015. Once completed, it will accommodate around 1,000 pilgrims and provisions will be made to accommodate another 1,000 pilgrims in next 5-10 years.
Regarding to the Hajj Bhavan constucting in Bangalore, he said that the project was in its final stage and the bhavan would be ready for accommodation of Hajj pilgrims in 2014.
Information centres in ten districts: The minister also announced the setting-up of information centres to provide information on minority schemes at district headquarters in ten districts. Each information centre will have two employees trained to provide information to people.
Bidaai scheme: The minister said that under the Bidaai scheme (Shaadi Bhagya), underprivileged women belonging to Muslim, Christian, Jain and Buddhist communities can avail the facility. Rs 10 crore would be distributed among 2,000 girls belonging to minority communities for their marriage. Among the total amount, Rs 5 crore is used for Muslims and Rs 2 crore for Christians, he added.
New welfare schemes: The minister said that a sum of Rs 25 crore had been earmarked in the budget to provide subsidy for purchasing sites for minorities. The state government will provide a subsidy of up to Rs 1 lakh each for minorities in order to purchase land and it will give of 50 percent for minorities in micro-loan scheme, which offered a subsidy of 25 per cent earlier.
Municipal administration: To increase efficiency in district administration, three city municipal corporations in the state have been upgraded as per the requirements.
