Book of Integration Council New - Ministry of Home Affairs

also aware that there are imbalances within the State itself, which need to be taken
care of. To this objective the State Government has already decentralized powers
and started the process of devolution of funds to Sixth Scheduled
Areas and 6 (six) newly created Development Councils for communities, which
fall outside the sixth schedule areas. We belive that with people’s participation,
democratic decentralization there would be both equitable development and regional
balance within the State. On the other hand, a special programme proposed during
current financial year for all round socio-economic development of the minorities.
The Programme will be launched after due consultation with the representatives of
minority organizations and an amount of Rs.25 crore has been set-aside for this.
Education system has a very important role in propagating societal harmony.
Stress has been given to increase literacy rates among disadvantaged groups.
Inter State mobility of students play an integral role in the promotion of national
integration. It is necessary to inculcate the sense of national integration in the
very mind of people by initiating the same in the tender age itself. In India where
we have diverse culture, language etc. inter State mobility of students is a very
good platform to promote national integration. Taking note of the linguistic
diversity within our own State, we have allowed imparting of education in several
languages. As matter of fact, text books in as many as 17 languages are printed
in Assam. In Assam like in most other parts of the country, the minorities are
relatively educationally backward. The literacy rate of minorities is at present
45.25% as against the overall literacy rate of 63.25% for the state. It needs to be
reiterated that Assam has a very large population of muslims who comprise
approximately 31% of the population. The state government has laid special
emphasis on the education of minorities by taking the following steps, among
others:
1. 2526 EGS (Education Guarantee Scheme) centers are functioning in
minority-dominated areas. Out of 4,13,861 of school children covered
under EGS Centers, 2,04,064 are minority children
2. There are 1808 primary schools, 1022 EGS, 805 Songjogi Siksha
Kendra located in char areas. That is against 2819 habitations in char
areas, there are 3636 educational institutions.
3. The Government has set up a separate Directorate for Madrassa
Education.
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