Khadi Board under scanner for no loans to minorities

New Delhi: Delhi’s minorities panel has sought a detailed report from Khadi Gramodyog Board on why almost no loans were given to members of minority communities.

As per Delhi Khadi Gramodyog Board, 38 applications for loans were received from people from minorities in the last two years, out of which 37 were rejected, said Zafarul Islam Khan, the chairman of Delhi Minorities Commission.

“They told us there was one application in 2016 that was rejected. In 2017, a total of 37 applications were received of which just one was accepted,” Mr Khan said.

The commission sought a detailed report on the reasons for rejection of such applications from the board in ten days, he said. “If need be, the commission may also summon officials of the board with related records for a hearing,” he said.

The DMC was also studying the performance of other agencies that give loans to minorities in Delhi and would seek reports from them, Mr Khan said.

The issue of “poor progress” of Multi Sectoral Development Plan in North East Delhi was also taken up by the commission that had written to the Ministry of Minority Affairs.

“Work on a hospital coming up at Shastri Park under MSDP has been stopped for nearly an year due to lack of funds,” Mr Khan said.

The northeast district magistrate, who is the nodal officer of MSDP, has informed the commission that no funds were received for the hospital in last financial year, he said.

The commission has asked the ministry to provide funds so that the hospital could start to serve locals, including the minorities, he added.