Mysore/Mysuru: Stating that the Union and State Governments have introduced many schemes for development of Minorities, National Minorities Commission (NMC) Member Rinchen Lhamo asked officials to ensure that the facilities and benefits under these schemes reach the doorsteps of all the targeted beneficiaries.

She was speaking to presspersons after chairing an NMC progress review meeting at the Deputy Commissioner’s (DC’s) Office here on Thursday.

Noting that six religions have been listed as Minorities in the country, Rinchen Lhamo stressed on the need for maintaining peace, harmony and unity between communities and religions. She further said that the purpose of her visit was to learn about any hurdles that were coming in the way of delivering benefits and to address the grievances of minority communities.

Continuing, Lhamo said that she had visited Mahabodhi School, St. Philomena’s Church and Tibetan Rehabilitation Colonies and addressed the problems. She directed the DC to resolve road, street light, bus facility and footpath issues at Tibetan Colonies.

DC Dr. Bagadi Gautham said that there is no provision for setting up Water Treatment Plants using RO (Reverse Osmosis) technology. As such, the Minorities Welfare Department has been instructed to use other technologies for water treatment and to effectively implement all schemes, projects, initiatives, plans and programmes meant for the Minorities.

Several leaders of minority communities, who attended the meeting, wanted the Karnataka Government to continue ‘Shaadi Bhagya’ scheme.

They also urged the Government to take steps for timely sanction of student scholarship and to take measures for ensuring that more number of minority students get admission to professional courses and other higher education institutes.

District-level officers of various Departments and others were present.