AMN/
Gujarat Government has accorded minority status to the Jain community. A Government Resolution to this effect was issued on Saturday.
Transport Minister and BJP state unit chief Vijay Rupani, who himself is a Jain, said that Chief Minister Anandiben Patel on Saturday decided to accord the minority status to the Jain community.
He said that the decision has nothing to do with reservations and the new status will benefit the poor among the Jain community as they can avail of various scholarships, government welfare schemes. Jain institutions will get special status like the one given to Christian and Muslim institutions, the Minister said.
The previous UPA Government at the Centre had conferred the minority status on the community at the national level in January 2014.
The decision comes within a week of the state Government awarding 10 per cent reservation to the economically backward class among the upper castes in the face of Patel (Patidar) community’s agitation for OBC quota.