Striving towards betterment of underprivileged section in minorities: KSMC chairman Azeem

Hameed Ashraf | NT

Bengaluru:

The Minority Commission is working hard to improve the socioeconomic condition of the minority communities through affirmative action and inclusive development efforts, the Chairman of the Karnataka State Minorities Commission (KSMC) Abdul Azeem, told News Trail. Initially constituted under the Commission of Enquiries Act 1983 in order to preserve secular traditions, the KSMC functions to promote national integration and monitor safeguards provided for the minorities (Muslims, Christians, Jains, Buddhists, Sikhs and Parsis) in the central and state laws.

Abdul Azeem, who is currently serving his second consecutive term as Karnataka State Minorities Commission chairman, spoke about the priorities and challenges while working for the upliftment of underprivileged communities. “With the ample knowledge and experience which I have been blessed with after serving various departments in the state, I have been constantly striving to bring about a change in the underprivileged section of the society,” he said. 

Earlier this week, Azeem had met Major Manivannan P, who is currently serving as the Secretary to Government, overseeing the state minorities’ welfare, Hajj & Wakf department. Since the Minority Commission is vested with the powers to conduct studies, research and analysis in the minority departments, Azeem had emphasised the need to transfer Sir Syed Ahmed Khan Study and Research Centre from the Directorate of Minorities to the Minorities Commission. 

“Also during the discussion, I had requested the Secretary to the Government to transfer the posts of Urdu teachers in Maulana Azad Modern English Medium Schools from the 3B and SC/ST categories to 2B and General ones, since no candidates are available to fill the vacancies with Urdu teachers from those categories, which has resulted in the posts remaining vacant in the schools,” Azeem said. He also said that he has requested to enhance the fellowship for Ph.D/M.Phil students.

People, especially the ones who have been deprived of their basic rights, are often forced to run from pillar to post and wait for months to get their work done. However, Azeem claims that he is striving hard to put a stop to this and trying his best to redress the grievances which are brought to his notice. “I travel across the state and try to address an issue when people come to me with relevant reasons and documents.

Apart from my responsibilities as a chairman of KSMC, I had also started counselling sessions for the people entangled in trouble,” Azeem said while also adding that he had helped a few innocents who had been arrested by the cops based on incomplete information. “During Covid-19, we had initiated several war rooms and helped patients get admission into hospitals across the state.

The chairman also claimed to have recently helped Bengaluru residents rescue their wards from Baghdad, where at least two people were killed and more were reportedly injured during a series of Iranian missile attacks. Future plans Azeem said that he had requested Major Manivannan to issue a revised order renaming the new building constructed at Sheshadripuram here from KMDC Bhavan to Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Bhavan.

Also, he said that to preserve the Urdu language, he will soon host a meeting with the officials of the Karnataka Urdu Academy and discuss innovative methods to promote the Urdu language and literature among the young generation.