NCM Hosts Conference of State Minorities Commissions to Boost Minority Welfare and Inclusive Governance

The National Commission for Minorities (NCM), Government of India, today organised the Conference of State Minorities Commissions at Sushma Swaraj Bhawan in New Delhi, bringing together representatives from State Minorities Commissions, senior government officials, policymakers and community leaders to deliberate on minority welfare, institutional strengthening and inclusive development across the country.

The conference served as an important national platform for dialogue, coordination and policy exchange aimed at improving protection mechanisms for minority rights and enhancing welfare delivery systems for minority communities.

The deliberations focused on strengthening institutional coordination, improving grievance redressal systems and promoting inclusive governance aligned with India’s constitutional principles of equality, diversity and social justice.

Senior Union Ministers and State Representatives Attend

The conference was attended by Union Minister of Minority Affairs Shri Kiren Rijiju and Minister of State for Minority Affairs Shri George Kurian.

Other dignitaries present included:

• Shri Berjis Desai, Member, NCM;

• Ms. S. Munawari Begum, Member, NCM;

• Smt. Alka Upadhyaya, Secretary, NCM;

• Shri Danish Azad Ansari, Minister of State, Government of Uttar Pradesh;

• Shri Mohammad Zama Khan, Minister of Minority Welfare, Government of Bihar, and

• Dr. Atya Nand, Joint Secretary, NCM.

The event brought together stakeholders from multiple states and minority communities to discuss challenges, institutional reforms and welfare initiatives.

Kiren Rijiju Highlights Contributions of Minority Communities

Addressing the conference, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju praised the immense contribution of minority communities to India’s development across economic, educational, social and cultural sectors.

“The contribution of all minority communities to India’s growth and development is immense,” Rijiju said.

He specifically highlighted the contributions of different communities:

• The Parsi community in industry and economic development;

• Christians in education and healthcare;

• Muslims, Buddhists, Jains and others in enriching India’s cultural and intellectual life.

The Minister emphasised that India continues to remain one of the safest and most inclusive countries for minorities in the region.

“When we look at neighboring countries in the Indian subcontinent, we often see minority communities facing existential challenges and seeking refuge in India,” he said.

He added that minorities from countries such as Afghanistan and Sri Lanka have historically viewed India as a place offering security, dignity and protection.

Government Emphasises Minority Welfare Schemes

Minister of State for Minority Affairs Shri George Kurian focused on the role of government welfare schemes in empowering minority communities.

He highlighted initiatives such as the Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram (PMJVK), which aims to strengthen infrastructure and socio-economic development in minority-concentrated areas.

Kurian stressed that the Central Government remains committed to:

• Minority welfare;

• Social inclusion;

• Infrastructure development, and

• Advancing the vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047.

NCM Reports Strong Grievance Redressal Record

NCM Secretary Smt. Alka Upadhyaya presented details of the Commission’s grievance redressal performance over the past five years.

According to the Commission:

• A total of 9,558 petitions were received between 2021–22 and 2025–26;

• 9,230 complaints were disposed of during the same period.

The high disposal rate was presented as evidence of the Commission’s continued commitment to timely intervention and complaint resolution.

Upadhyaya also outlined new outreach initiatives and studies focused on:

• Buddhist communities;

• Jain communities, and

• Parsi communities.

Focus on Pasmanda Muslims and Welfare Inclusion

Uttar Pradesh Minister of State Shri Danish Azad Ansari highlighted government initiatives aimed at the welfare and empowerment of the Pasmanda Muslim community.

He linked inclusive development of minority communities to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047.

Meanwhile, Bihar Minority Welfare Minister Shri Mohammad Zama Khan stressed the importance of strengthening welfare schemes and ensuring a sense of security among minority communities.

Calls for Stronger Institutional Coordination

NCM Member Shri Berjis Desai highlighted certain institutional and jurisdictional limitations affecting the functioning of the Commission.

He argued that stronger coordination between State Minorities Commissions could significantly improve protection mechanisms and responsiveness to minority concerns.

NCM Member Ms. S. Munawari Begum also emphasised the importance of expanding awareness and implementation of PM VIKAS Yojana to strengthen community empowerment and development.

Technical Session Focuses on Role of Minorities in Nation Building

The conference featured multiple technical sessions examining different aspects of minority welfare and governance.

Technical Session I: Role of Minorities in the Development of the Country

The session explored the contribution of minority communities to:

• Nation building;

• Education;

• Entrepreneurship;

• Healthcare;

• Philanthropy;

• Social harmony, and

• Cultural development.

The session was moderated by Dr. Michael V. Williams, Director of Mount Carmel Schools.

Prominent speakers included:

• Shri Atif Rasheed representing the Muslim community;

• Shri Manjit Singh GK representing the Sikh community;

• Ven. Bhikkhu Bhaddiya representing the Buddhist community;

• Dr. Shugan Jain representing the Jain community, and

• Shri Adil Nargolwala representing the Parsi community.

Speakers highlighted the important role minority communities have played in strengthening India’s pluralistic and democratic character.

Discussions on Challenges Facing State Minority Commissions

Technical Session II: Functioning of State Minorities Commissions – Problems and Challenges

This session focused on operational challenges faced by State Minorities Commissions.

Participants discussed issues such as:

• Institutional capacity limitations;

• Administrative coordination;

• Staffing shortages;

• Resource constraints;

• Legal challenges, and

• Grievance redressal systems.

Chairpersons from State Minorities Commissions including Assam, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Manipur participated in the discussions.

The session emphasised the need for stronger institutional mechanisms and better inter-state coordination.

States Showcase Best Practices for Minority Welfare

Technical Session III: Best Practices of State Governments and UTs

The final technical session provided states and Union Territories an opportunity to present successful minority welfare initiatives and governance models.

Presentations were made by representatives from:

• Bihar;

• Assam;

• Kerala;

• Meghalaya;

• Tamil Nadu, and

• Other states.

The presentations covered initiatives relating to:

• Educational assistance;

• Skill development;

• Scholarships;

• Livelihood promotion;

• Community welfare programmes, and

• Institutional innovations.

Officials said sharing best practices could help improve policy coordination and strengthen welfare implementation across states.

Renewed Commitment to Inclusive Governance

The conference concluded with a renewed commitment towards:

• Collaborative action;

• Stronger institutional coordination;

• Inclusive governance, and

• Sustained engagement on minority welfare issues.

Officials said the deliberations are expected to contribute significantly towards improving protection of minority rights and strengthening welfare mechanisms across India.

The conference also reinforced the importance of ensuring that minority communities remain integrated into India’s broader social, economic and developmental progress.