Viksit Bharat @2047: NCMEI Calls Minority Institutions Key Partners In Nation-Building

A state-level seminar on the theme ‘Role of Minority Educational Institutions in Nation-Building: Viksit Bharat @2047’ was organised today at Indira Bhawan, Lucknow, under the joint aegis of the National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions (NCMEI) and the Department of Minority Welfare and Waqf, Government of Uttar Pradesh.

The event holds particular significance in the context of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

Minority Institutions at the Heart of Nation-Building

Presiding over the seminar, Prof (Dr) Shahid Akhtar, Officiating Chairman of the NCMEI, asserted that minority educational institutions are not merely centres of learning but serve as powerful laboratories that strengthen social harmony and national unity.

“Our cultural heritage is exceptionally rich, and minority educational institutions can play a transformative role in the Viksit Bharat mission,” he stated.

Prof Akhtar shed light on the NCMEI’s ongoing efforts to protect the interests and statutory rights of minority educational institutions. He advised institutions to proactively coordinate with the relevant government departments to complete the process of obtaining minority status.

Prof Akhtar urged them to prepare comprehensive institutional action plans, clearly define their responsibilities, and submit at least five actionable suggestions each regarding the challenges they face, thereby directly contributing to the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047.

Education is the Cornerstone of Viksit Bharat

Addressing the gathering as the Chief Guest, Danish Azad Ansari, Minister of State for Minority Welfare, Waqf and Haj, Government of Uttar Pradesh, emphasised that education is the strongest and most reliable foundation for realising Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ambitious dream of a developed India by 2047.

“Nearly 20 per cent of Uttar Pradesh’s population belongs to minority communities, which represents a vast and untapped reservoir of talent. Education is a non-negotiable pillar for Viksit Bharat,” he remarked.

Danish Azad Ansari reaffirmed that the Department of Minority Welfare and the Uttar Pradesh government are working ceaselessly for the comprehensive welfare of minorities. Underlining employment, education and holistic development as the state government’s key priorities, he called upon minority educational institutions to take a pioneering and proactive role in advancing these objectives.

Notably, a national conference took place in Lucknow earlier this year, on January 28, which identified minority educational institutions as the central engine of India’s growth trajectory.

Today’s seminar serves as a crucial and timely follow-up in the same progressive direction.

Our Diversity is Our Strength, Not a Challenge

On this occasion, Shailendra Singh Yadav, Director of Minority Welfare, Uttar Pradesh, was also present, alongside representatives and office-bearers from various minority educational institutions across Lucknow.

It is noteworthy that, over the past several years, the NCMEI has consistently emphasised through numerous national conferences that minority institutions are not peripheral contributors but rather primary engines of inclusive and equitable development.

Speakers at the seminar unanimously opined that India’s immense diversity is not a weakness but its greatest competitive advantage.

Education not only promotes social mobility and economic empowerment but also reinforces national integration and communal harmony.

Prof Shahid Akhtar further stated that through sustained coordination and constructive cooperation between majority and minority communities, deep-seated animosities can be transformed into enduring goodwill, with academic institutions standing as exemplary models of social cohesion and shared values.

Clear Guidelines for Institutions

During the seminar, institutions should formulate robust action plans and clearly define their measurable contributions towards the overarching goal of Viksit Bharat @2047.

Institutions should coordinate with the relevant line departments to streamline and accelerate the process of obtaining minority status.

The programme concluded with a formal vote of thanks, expressing deep gratitude to all participants and stakeholders.

The seminar once again made it abundantly clear that minority educational institutions are active, willing and integral partners in the nation’s transformative journey towards Viksit Bharat @2047. These concerted efforts by both the central commission and the state government will likely provide a fresh direction, renewed energy and greater institutional confidence to minority educational institutions across Uttar Pradesh.