Alleging that the bureaucrats at the state and local levels are not serious about implementing schemes chalked out for the minorities, a National Monitoring Committee for Minorities’ Education (NMCME) member Shafi Dehlvi said that officials have shown negligence. “The bureaucrats are expected to deliver their services honestly for the development of all sections of society. However most deny minorities the benefits,” he said during his visit to Malegaon on August 26. “In recent years, crores of rupees have been sanctioned for the welfare of minorities and they have also been released to various state coffers. However, looking at the ground level, we don’t see any change. Where has the amount gone?” he asked.
Shafi Dehlvi was especially critical of what he termed as the ‘total failure’ of the bureaucrats in effectively implementing the schemes outlined in prime minister’s 15-point programme for the 90 minority-concentrated districts. He said he suspected that the minorities development funds had either not been properly utilised or had been diverted to some other purposes. “The bureaucrats try to find out ways to divert the funds for some other purposes, and if not, they just unnecessarily hold them so that they do not reach the right people”, he alleged.