New Delhi: The Markazi Taleemi Board (MTB), Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, hosted a pre-budget consultation to address the educational needs of minority communities as part of its efforts to influence the state budget planning process. The session featured insightful presentations by Dr. Javed Alam, General Secretary of IPSA, and Dr. Sadat Hussain, Research Scholar, who highlighted key measures to improve access to education for minorities.
Dr. Javed Alam emphasised the importance of aligning budget allocations with the goals of National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 to ensure inclusive and quality education. He stressed the need for targeted interventions to remove barriers that hinder access to education for minority communities and called for infrastructure upgrades in schools located in minority-dominated areas.
Dr. Sadat Hussain added his perspective on the significance of education financing, pointing out that insufficient funding often limits the impact of existing educational schemes. He urged a thorough review of current budgetary allocations to ensure resources are effectively directed toward schools and institutions that need them most.
Dr. Hussain also highlighted the persistent issue of social inequality in education and called for increased focus on initiatives like the Right to Education (RTE), Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), and School Management Committees (SMCs) in the upcoming budget. He advocated for integrating skill development programmes into school curricula to equip students from minority backgrounds with both academic and practical skills essential for succeeding in today’s competitive environment.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Syed Tanveer Ahmed, Secretary of Markazi Taleemi Board, underlined that education is a fundamental right and that the educational aspirations of minority communities must not be overlooked during budget planning.
“This pre-budget consultation is part of our ongoing efforts to ensure the state budget reflects the needs and aspirations of minority communities, enabling meaningful educational reforms that empower future generations,” he said.
Mr. Ahmed further announced that MTB’s state units would conduct similar consultation sessions in their respective states, inviting intellectuals and budget experts from the community and society at large. These consultations will result in actionable recommendations that the MTB will present to state governments.
The event was attended by educationists, policymakers, and MTB state coordinators, who actively engaged in discussions aimed at ensuring that the upcoming state budget addresses the educational needs of marginalised communities.
The MTB reaffirmed its commitment to fostering an inclusive, equitable approach to budget planning and remains dedicated to advocating for sustainable educational reforms that benefit minority populations.
