The Cabinet have decided to introduce an ordinance for the creation of a National Commission to grant minority educational institutions direct affiliation to a scheduled university. The six scheduled universities are Delhi University, North Eastern Hill University, Pondicherry University, Assam University, Nagaland University and Mizoram University. The move is to safeguard the Constitutional guarantee to minorities for setting up educational institutions, Finance Minister P. Chidambaram said.The commission would comprise three members with chairman, who should be an HC judge, and two members for five years. The members will preferably be chosen from the minority communities.The minister said the decision to grant foodgrains to the 2001 Gujarat earthquake victims would cost Rs 92.65 crore.
