IRC helps minorities avail benefits

To ensure more people take advantage of various schemes, including scholarships, on offer for minorities, Islami Relief Committee (IRC) has begun a campaign to spread awareness about the same.

“The aim is to create awareness about scholarships on offer for minority students. By minority, we don’t mean just Muslims but also those belonging to the schedule caste and tribes as well,” said president of IRC Shakeel Ahmed.

He said that as far as scholarships are concerned, they are targeting community leaders, activists and religious leaders to make them aware of the various schemes.

“To apply for scholarships, a variety of documents are required. Our volunteers not only help students and parents gather the documents, but also explain the process of applying for scholarships,” said Ahmed.

He further said that similar programmes in other parts of the country had generated a good response. In Maharshtra, he said, 65,000 scholarship forms have been filled. Incidentally, he did not have figures for Gujarat although the programme has been going on for a year and a half.

Syed Imtiaz Ali, an IRC member, working on the programme at Surendranagar, said that they give information about government policies and how to access the same. “In 2012, we helped 72 seniors get the Centre’s pension facility. Around 17 students have also been able to apply for scholarships,” Ali said.