Centre to set up five educational institutions for minorities: Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi

New Delhi, Mar 2: Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Wednesday said the Centre will establish five world-class institutions to provide better education in technical, medical, ayurveda and unani fields to students belonging to the minority communities.

"A high-level committee working to chalk out a framework for these institutions will soon submit its report (in this regard)," the Minister of State for Minority Affairs said.

The minister was addressing a national seminar of Minority Community Teachers Association at the India Islamic Cultural Centre here.

"We are working on a strategy to get these institutes -- to be set up across the country -- started in 2018. We propose 40 per cent reservation for girl students," he said.

Naqvi said shortage of teachers was a matter of concern but the Centre had taken several measures. "The states should also come forward to address this concern," he said.

Naqvi said allocations for the Minority Affairs Ministry in the 2017-18 Union Budget has been increased to Rs 4,195.48 crore.

Over 70 per cent of this budgetary allocation will be utilised for educational empowerment of the minorities, he said.