Minority certificates elude institutions run by missionaries

GUWAHATI: The issue of stategovernment's alleged non-cooperation regarding issuance of minority statuscertificate to educational institutions has constantly dogged educationalinstitutions in the state.Legal Cell for Human Rights (LCHR) an NGO has recently approached the Assam State Minority Commission for pursuing the matter with the state government. "A total of 118 applications from various schools in Assam run by missionaries are so far pending with the educational (Secondary) department for issuance of certificates," said LCHR director Ravi Sagar.The LCHR has been authorized by the Christian Missionary runschools in the state to take up the matter with the State Minority Commission."The applications are pending for more than a year now. This is not only aharassment but also violation of Article 30 (1) of the Constitution," saidSagar. He added that almost all the 350 schools run by Christian missionaries inAssam had been suffering due to non-cooperation by the government departmentconcerned."If the department concerned can't issue minority statuscertificates, it should reject our applications. But it is is neither issuing usthe papers nor rejecting our pleas. We can approach the National Commission forMinority Educational Institutions for the same if it rejects our applications,"said Sagar. It may be mentioned here that the vice-chairman ofNational Commission for Minorities, HT Sangliana, had expressed concern overnon-issuance of minority status certificates to educational institutions duringhis visit to the state in May. He had suggested that the stateminority commission should be involved in issuing them. Whencontacted, sources in the state minority commission here said the commission hasreceived several complaints. "We are inquiring into the matter," said asource.