Minority Affairs Ministry to give Rs 120 crore relief to Jammu and Kashmir

NEW DELHI: Minority Affairs Ministry will provide Rs 120 crore for relief and rehabilitation of flood-hit people of Jammu and Kashmir and all officers and staff including the minister will donate a day's salary for the Prime Minister's Relief Fund.

Making this announcement at a press conference here today, Minority Affairs Minister Najma Heptulla said the special package will be utilised under various schemes and programmes being executed by the ministry.

Out of the Rs 120 crore package, Rs 50 crore will be extended as concessional finance for setting up of micro enterprises and Rs five crore will be spent under the 'seekho aur kamao' programme to provide training to 2,000 youths.

The minister said Rs 30 crore will be provided as pre-matric and post-matric scholarships. Besides, Rs 1.30 crore worth scholarship amount will be given to 2,000 girls under the Maulana Azad Education Foundation.

The ministry will spent Rs 25 crore for construction of health centres, government schools and madrasas, ITIs and colleges under the 'jan vikas yojna'.

Heptulla said Rs four crore will be utilised for upgradation of skills and training of 1000 people in traditional arts and crafts and providing bridge courses for madrasa students under the 'nai manzil' initiative.

"It has also been decided that my ministry, including myself, and all other officers and staff will contribute one-day salary for the Prime Minister's Relief Fund," she said.