The Ministry of Minority Development and Wakf Board, under Vinod Tawde’s leadership focused on the promotion of social welfare and economic development of the minority population, constituting of members from the Muslim, Christian, Buddhist, Sikhs, Zoroastrian, Jains and the Jewish communities.
The core aim of the department was to provide the members of the minority communities an equal and fair opportunity to work towards improving their social standing and advancing towards prosperity like the rest of the country.
Additionally, the department contributed towards maintaining the distinct identities and the traditional uniqueness of these communities as envisioned by Tawde. In order to achieve this, the department undertook various initiatives that promoted the art and literature of these communities, extending its overall outreach.
Grants for Basic Amenities in Educational Institute for Minorities
Under Vinod Tawde as a Minister for Minority Development, the Department provided financial aid to ensure the provision of basic amenities in government and private schools, junior colleges and vocational guidance centres where more than 70% of the students belong to the listed minority communities. Another provision, the grant was also given to the institutions where more than 50% of the students belong to the handicapped community.
Haj House
The Haj House is the advisory unit located at various locations in the state to help the faithful undertake the holy pilgrimage of Haj. The Haj house mediates the documentation procedure, advises the pilgrims on the prerequisites, medical vaccines and fulfilment of other requirements before commencing the Haj pilgrimage.
Apart from the existing Haj Houses located in the city of Mumbai and Nagpur, Vinod Tawde pushed for the completion of Haj House at Ahmednagar.
Dr. Zakir Hussain Madarsa Aadhunikikaran Yojna
Vinod Tawde is a firm believer in grooming of scientific temperament from the early years of childhood. He strongly supports equality in education and wanted to ensure that even student from religious schooling learn the basics of Maths and Science. He ensured that the department, under Dr. Zakir Hussain Madrasa Aadhunikaran Yojana, worked with the madrasas registered with the Charity Commission and Wafk Board to introduce lessons of Maths, Science, Social Sciences and Languages, along with the traditional studies to aid the academic abilities of the students in madrasas.
Scholarship Program
To help the students of the minority communities achieve their academic aspirations, the department, under Vinod Tawde’s leadership granted a scholarship program for these students by providing Rs. 25 Thousand in scholarship for professional, technical courses and Rs. 5 Thousand for Degree programs.
Coaching for Competitive Exams
The department, under Vinod Tawde’s leadership, facilitated coaching programs for the aspirant of various governmental competitive exams, both for the administrative and banking sector. The department had set up 5 coaching centres across the state in cities like Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Kolhapur and Aurangabad which provides the aspirants with coaching, training, reading material and provisions for exam fees to help them successfully clear the exams.
Urdu Sahitya Academy
Started in the year 1975, The Urdu Sahitya Academy is a successful venture of the department aimed towards promoting the Urdu language and its literature. With the help of the academy, the department operates Urdu language courses, organises Mehfils, Mushairas, Award Functions and workshops for expanding the outreach of Urdu language. Under Vinod Tawde’s leadership, several mushairas, mehfils and iftar dinners during the holy month of Ramzan were organised by the department.
Urdu Ghar
The department, under Vinod Tawde’s leadership, had established Urdu Ghars in various locations in Maharashtra with an aim to preserve, promote and popularise Urdu literature. Urdu Ghars in Maharashtra house some rare pieces of literature in Urdu language, opening access to the patrons of the language to experience its richness. The department had granted permission to develop Urdu Ghars in Malegaon, Nanded and Solapur.
