Against the backdrop of the upcoming state assembly elections, the ruling Mahayuti alliance is making efforts to attract Muslim voters. In a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, three significant decisions were made to benefit the minority community. These include increasing the share capital of the 'Maulana Azad Minority Economic Development Corporation,' raising the remuneration of madrasa teachers, and allotting government land in Kurla to establish a dialysis center under the Shahir Amar Sheikh Prabodhini.
According to details shared by the state government, the cabinet has approved raising the share capital of the 'Maulana Azad Minority Economic Development Corporation' to ₹1,000 crore, up from the existing ₹700 crore. This corporation provides loans and financial assistance to help members of the minority community establish small businesses.
Additionally, the state government has increased the remuneration of madrasa teachers by ₹10,000. The decision, made in the cabinet meeting, focuses on teachers with D.Ed. and B.Ed. qualifications. Currently, D.Ed. teachers in madrasas earn ₹6,000, but this will be increased to ₹16,000. Similarly, the salaries of B.A., B.Ed., and B.Sc.-B.Ed. teachers will rise from ₹8,000 to ₹18,000. The Mahayuti government had appointed these teachers on a contractual basis to teach subjects like Mathematics, Science, Social Science, Hindi, Marathi, English, and Urdu under the Dr. Zakir Husain Madrasa Modernization Scheme.
Furthermore, the cabinet approved the allotment of 2,000 square meters of government land in Kurla to the 'Shahir Amar Sheikh Loknatya Kala Prabodhini' for the establishment of a dialysis center. This land will be provided on a leasehold basis. Shahir Amar Sheikh Prabodhini, founded by Padmashree Namdev Dhasal and renowned writer Mallika Amar Sheikh, has contributed significantly to the arts and social welfare sectors. The land was reserved under the Development Plan of the BMC and will now be leased to the Prabodhini for the dialysis center.
