Guwahati, April 10: The National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions has not proved beneficial for the Muslim community, according to M.S.A. Siddiqui, the chairperson of the country’s apex minority education watchdog.

Siddiqui, speaking at a regional conference on empowerment of minority women through education here this afternoon, said as a major chunk of the Muslim populace was illiterate, they had failed to get the benefits of various provisions of the National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions Act, 2004.

The comment is significant as the commission was the outcome of the UPA government’s much-hyped National Common Minimum Programme for the welfare of the minority communities, particularly Muslims.

“It is a sad commentary. The NCMEI is currently conducting a series of workshops, conferences and awareness programmes across the country to sensitise the Muslim community about various provisions laid down in the Constitution and the NCMEI Act, 2004 for their welfare. The Northeast is also a highly focused area in this initiative of the NCMEI,” Siddiqui said.

The conference, organised by the Education, Research & Development Foundation, witnessed the assembly of a large number of women activists, educationists, officials and minority leaders across the region.

Shabistan Gaffar, the chairperson of the Committee on Girls’ Education, said various sub-committees would be constituted to recommend initiatives needed to empower the women of the minority community.