What minority status will mean for Jains

What minority status will mean for Jains Jain Community will now avail of exclusive schemes run by the ministry of minority affairs Tenants dwelling in prime properties of Jain temples for years may have to vacate these;government interference in institutions and trusts of the community will cease to exist; and there will be 50 per cent reservation for Jain students in colleges run by the community: These are the immediate benefits resulting from the accordance of minority status to Jains. The community, which comprises only a fraction of India’s population, now stands at a par with five other minority communities — Muslims,Sikhs, Christians, Buddhists and Parsis. It will avail of exclusive schemes run by the ministry of minority affairs. Some of the schemes for minorities Multi-Sectoral Development Programme Scholarship scheme Post-matric scholarship scheme Merit-cum-means based scholarship Free coaching and allied scheme Maulana Azad National Fellowship “One should not confuse the issue of minority status with that of reservation in jobs and education institutes such as IITs (Indian Institutes of Technology) and IIMs (Indian Institutes of Management). The latter is only for people who fall under the categories of scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and Other Backward Classes. Jains are generally financially sound and most of them are out of these categories,” “The only benefit we will have is the government won’t be able to interfere in our daily function or running trusts and temples, which have enormous wealth in terms of cash and properties. The Archeological Survey of India wanted to bring down some of our temples; now, it can’t do much,” Other benefits the community’s institutions may avail of include exemption from rent control laws. It can seek legal recourse to evict tenants who have housed their properties for years and pay a meagre rent. Besides, Jains can teach culture and religion in their institutions and seek government funding for land. There are about five million Jains in India, , Jains have been demanding the Union government, too, do so. After many twists, turns and legal hurdles, the move was finally cleared by the Union cabinet.. Many may believe this is a pre-election dole and the Congress is likely to gain from it during the coming Lok Sabha elections. I submit that Jains had never exercised political influence, though they welcomed this decision with an open mind. Wajahat Habibullah, chairperson of the National Commission for Minorities, says his organisation has always supported the demand for grant of minority status to Jains. “Every community has a distinct problem. With Muslims, it is education; for Buddhists, it is the reorganisation of their places of worship in different part of the country; for Jains, it is their religious places and temples,” he adds. “Most Jains don’t need scholarships because they are financially sound. It will not create a major difference to other communities.” The literacy rate among Jains is about 90 per cent. The Muslim community has been the major beneficiary of scholarships from the ministry for minority affairs (which account for most of the ministry’s annual budget of about Rs 3,000crore), as their population is the highest among minority communities. JAIN SAJJAN RAJ MEHTA CHAIRMAN JAIN CO-ORDINATION COMMITTEE

A WRITE UP ABOUT THE ON-GOING DEBATE ON NATIONAL MINORITY FOR JAINS IN TIMES OF INDIA,BANGALORE ,TODAY DATED 6.2.14 ON PAGE 5

Minority status will help us serve nation better, say Jains TIMES NEWS NETWORK After decades of relentless persuasion, the Jain community in Karnataka believes the recently-granted minority community status will boost its philanthropic activities and help serve the nation better. While community members have settled down all over the country, Karnataka, where the religion has enjoyed patronage from major kingdoms including the Kadamba and Chalukya dynasties, is particularly close to their heart. While community members do different things for a living, hard work and philanthropy are dear to all. Chenraj Jain, chairman, Jain College says: “Every Jain household, regardless of class, indulges in charity.” Dr Narpat Solanki, a 2003 Rajyotsava awardee, for example, conducts free eye surgeries from a rented place in Bangalore. As part of his Project Drishti, he has conducted 1.7 lakh successful surgeries in 13 years. “I’m only doing 50% of what can be done,” he said, adding that the new status will help get support from the government and thereby reach more people. The work of Veerendra Heggade of Dharmasthala is truly inspiring. Belgaum, home to the largest Jain population in South India with nearly 50,000 Jain families, has people like Gopal Jinagouda, a successful industrialist and philanthropist. Not only does his firm employ hundreds of people, his foundation also helps poor families and their children. It has disbursed Rs 2.5 lakh every year to five to seven students from the district for seven years. In Hubli, there are many prominent people from about 700 families. Vimal Talikoti, secretary, Jain Samaj, said: “We give scholarships to poor students every year which cover their fees.” The work is similar to that of the Mahaveer Education Society. They also take care of animals, with thePinjarapole in Mysore being a sterling example.Thehomefor destitute animals has over 3,500 animals, mostly cattle. “We collect over Rs 3 crore annually from philanthropists for this,” society treasurer Shantilal Khabiya said. Bijapur also benefits from the largesse. The Nahar brothers provide meals for a rupee. “In 1972, when severe drought affected Bijapur, my father Nathi Lal distributed meals to people at 10 paise,” Hemanth Nahar said. To this day, there’s a long queue every day at Kabraji Bazar for these meals. Has the Centre’s decision come too late? Arguing that Jains constitute only between 0.5%-0.6% of the population, some were surprised at the delay. Sajjan Raj Mehta, a prominent industrialist in Bangalore, said: “One shouldn’t confuse minority status with reservation in jobs and educational institutes. We just want to protect our culture.” he said. “More than 90% of Jains are literate but education is different from literacy. This status will help us take more children to higher education besides providing better healthcare,” Kishore Jain said. Sajjan Raj Mehta

SUBJECT ; PRE- BUDGET MEMORANDUM TO HON'BLE UNION FINANCE MINISTER

31.1.14 TO, THE HON'BLE UNION FINANCE MINISTER, LOK-SABHA, NEW DELHI.. RESPECTED SIR SUBJECT ; PRE- BUDGET MEMORANDUM SEASON'S GREETINGS Hope and trust that under your able guidance Indian economy will prosper further and further..what-ever reforms the Union Government is implementing will be fruitful for the trade & industry .. PHASING OUT CST We would like to divert your kind attention that yet CST has not been phased out and we from the trade and industry are regularly paying CST@2%yet..It is a long pending demand from us to phase out the CST in total.. long back it should have been @0%... The department concerned in all States of India fail to provide 'c' forms in right time to traders for the reasons best known to them . In Karnataka situation might be different as compared to others but yet we feel it puts additional work load on traders and compels them to bear the burnt of red-tapism,harassment & corruption.. Currently VAT& INCOME TAX AUDIT is required on the turnover of Rupees @10000000/- which could be increased to Rupees @20000000/- to help the medium segment of traders .. We traders will consider it a much deserving gift & the way the inflation has gone up it will help us a bit.. GST is due but no road map or guide lines yet so we will be highly obliged if we have the proper information in well advance... WISH THE UP-COMING UNION BUDGET A HAPPENING SUCCESS...WE TRUST THAT YOU WILL LEND YOUR PERSONAL ATTENTION TO OUR ABOVE MENTIONED SUGGESTIONS & LEAVE NO STONE UN-TURNED TO ISSUE NECESSARY ORDER FOR THEIR IMPLEMENTATION AT THE EARLIEST.. WITH KINDEST REGARDS.. THANKS A LOT.. YOURS FAITHFULLY SAJJAN RAJ MEHTA EX.PRESIDENT..KARNATAKA HOSIERY AND GARMENT ASSOCIATION CHAIRMAN..TAXATION COMMITTEE..K H A G A 09845501150

YET AGAIN AN ACCIDENT OF JAIN SAINTS

SAD NEWS YET AGAIN AN ACCIDENT OF JAIN SAINTS MAJOR ACCIDENT TODAY AT JODHPUR RAJASTHAN OF PARAM PUJYA JAIN SAINT SRI VINAY MUNI BHIM & HIS 2 DISCIPLES PUJYA SRI NIRANJAN MUNI IS NO MORE WITH US & MAY HIS DEPARTED SOUL REST IN PEACE... JAIN SAINTS ADMITTED IN MATHURA DAS MATHUR HOSPITAL AT JODHPUR REGULAR ACCIDENTS OF JAIN SAINTS & THEFTS IN JAIN TEMPLES .. IT JUST CAN'T BE MERE ACCIDENTS ? ENTIRE JAIN COMMUNITY CONDEMNS THESE INCIDENTS...WITH THE UNITED EFFORTS IN CO-ORDINATION WITH THE CENTRAL & UNION GOVT, WE MUST LOOK INTO IT & STOP THESE ACTS BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE... JAIN MUNIJI Admitted in MDM Hospital at Jodhpur ..Rajasthan RIP NIRANJAN MUNI SA SADAR JAI JINENDRA JAIN SAJJAN RAJ MEHTA CHAIRMAN..JAIN CO-ORDINATION COMMITTEE... BANGALORE