‘Minority education centres lying defunct’

NEWDELHI: Rajya Sabha MP Javed Ali Khan on Monday raised the issue of several institutions, which were created for education and financing needs of minorities, lying almost defunct in absence of timely appointments. Giving example, Khan said the Maulana Azad Educational Foundation has no director for three years and only six months back an appointment has been made. Similarly, there was no chairman of the National Minority Development Financial Corporation for three years. A head was appointed only three months back. No appointment has been made at the Commissioner for Linguistic Minorities since it submitted a report two years back. Noting that the National Commission for Minority Institutions does not have a chairman or member for the last four years, Khan said the functioning of the institution which gives recognition to a minority institution is paralysed and over 7,000 applications pending.

GUARD PEOPLE’S PERSONAL DATA: TMC

Trinamool Congress leader Derek O’Brien on Monday told Rajya Sabha that government should safeguard the data shared by people while booking railway tickets and other services through online platforms. Raising the issue during the zero hour in the Rajya Sabha, O’Brien also expressed concern over the personal details of members of Parliament being at the risk of being exposed as they are allowed to submit Zero Hour issues and questions via email. He said that even the IRCTC railway database was exposed while booking tickets.