Rijiju reviews infrastructure projects in Arunachal, calls for acceleration of projects under ‘Buddhist Development Plan’ | India News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: The ‘Buddhist Development Plan‘ launched in March, just before the code of conduct for the Lok Sabha elections was announced, took centre stage at a review meeting held by Minister for Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju on Tuesday, where he reviewed the status and roadmap for expediting infrastructure projects approved under Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram (PMJVK) of the Ministry for Arunachal The Chief Minister of Pradesh.Arunachal, Pema Khandu, was present at the evaluation.
Rijiju also announced the release of financial assistance of Rs 35 crore as central share in the state for ongoing projects under the scheme covering minority dominated districts. Two new projects were also announced, one for Kumchaikha of Diyun Circle and the other for Pakpu Maling.
The Minister also reviewed the roadmap for expeditious implementation of 10 development projects approved for the state under the ‘Buddhist Development Plan’ to reach out to the Buddhist community in the remote border areas of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim and Ladakh.
The main objective behind BDP, according to the government, is to secularize traditional theological education with a complementary provision of modern education and professional, vocational and skill development courses for the young Buddhist population in these areas. Under BDP, the aim is to converge various ongoing programs of the ministry such as PMJVK and those linked to scholarships and skills, among others.
In March, the then Minister for Minority Affairs, Smriti Irani, laid the foundation stone for 38 projects estimated at a cost of Rs 225 crore, approved under the Buddhist Development Plan under the PMJVK in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim and Ladakh.
Infrastructure developments such as community centres and support to improve education and health infrastructure can be implemented under the PMJVK, a pan-India scheme, in an area where 25% of the population within 15 kilometres of the project site are from minority communities, including Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Buddhists, Jains and Zoroastrians (Parsis).