– Ronita Torcato 

Education is the ultimate engine for social transformation, but it only works if everyone can get behind the wheel.

This was the consensus of state MLAs at a high level meeting regarding the fulfillment of promises made to improve the lot of Maharashtra’s minorities.

At the meeting held at the Sahyadri Guest House in Mumbai yesterday, Deputy Chief Minister and Minority Development Minister Sunetra Ajit Pawar presented a blueprint for uplifting the state’s minority communities through education, skill development, employment generation and social empowerment.

At the top of the agenda is breaking down systemic bottlenecks and Pawar issued a directive to expedite the filling of vacant posts within the Minority Department under a non-negotiable time limit.

“Providing quality educational opportunities to students from minority communities—especially creating higher and technical education facilities for girls—is the need of the hour,” Pawar emphasized. “Education is an effective tool for social transformation and can give a new direction to the progress of society.”

Also, special efforts should be made to effectively reach the beneficiaries of the individual benefit schemes implemented by the government, she said.

To back this up, the Maharashtra government will focus on tech-driven empowerment:

Integrating technology-based learning into curricula, aligning youth training with job market demands and supporting minority youth to transition from job seekers to entrepreneurs through skill enhancement programs.

The meeting also reviewed the operations and plans of the Minorities Research & Training Institute (MARTI) to expand its training scope, upgrade facilities, and streamline student services.

Lawmakers across the spectrum—including MLA Abu Azmi via video link, alongside MLAs Sana Malik-Sheikh and Rais Sheikh and Deputy Chief Minister’s Secretary Dr. Rajesh Deshmukh – who attended the meeting, concluded with a call for inter-departmental teamwork.

Additionally, Pawar directed immediate follow-ups with the Central government regarding outstanding Hajj Committee seat allocations.

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