Former Deputy Speaker Aminul Haque Laskar is the new chairman of Minorities Welfare in Assam

Aminul Haque Laskar, the Ex MLA of Sonai has been nominated as the Chairperson of the Welfare of Minorities and Development Department of the state. This order was notified by the Governor of Assam on September 5, through the Secretary to the Government of Assam. Other than Laskar, there are five members from different districts of Assam.

This state-level body was constituted as per the directives of the Assam State Commission for Minorities Act, 2003. The body came into effect from September 3, 2014. The newly nominated body came after the expiry of the previously constituted body. The body under the chairmanship of Aminul Haque Laskar of Sonai, Cachar.

The notification issued by the Governor read, “the Governor of Assam is pleased to re-constitute the Assam State Commission for Minorities with the following persons for a period of three years with effect from the date of the Chairperson and Members assuming office”. Other than Chairman, Aminul Haque Laskar the Ex MLA of Sonai, the members include, Ujjal Shyam of Charaideo, Amrit Pal Singh of Nagaon, Surajmal Jain of Dhubri, Suonkhomang Changsan of Dima Hasao and Badiuj Zamal of Kamrup Metro.

This department looks after empowering the minority communities and creating an enabling environment for strengthening the multicultural, multilingual and multi-religious character of the State of Assam. It also deals with the affairs of Minorities including Linguistic Minorities and people living in Char Areas in Assam.

The department’s mandate is to formulate and execute schemes for the welfare of the backward notified religious minority communities including linguistic minorities & people living in char areas to enable these communities to be at par with the mainstream with preferences being given to the occupational groups and women. And also to formulate schemes to promote self- employment and other ventures for the benefit of the said communities. This body also looks after the Hajj pilgrimage and the action plan for the same.