Panaji, Oct 19 (TOI): The Goa State Minority Finance and Development Corporation presented a memorandum to member of the national commission for minorities, Khurshid K Dastoor, urging him to take necessary steps to provide reservations for minorities in admission to professional courses and in government jobs.

Pointing out that Goa’s minorities—Christians, Muslims, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains and others— comprise 34% of Goa’s population, chairman of the commission Jose Orlando Menezes urged Dastoor to provide financial assistance for infrastructure development, including housing, crematoriums and educational institutions.

The corporation also requested for a special package for tours and pilgrimage for minorities from Goa as well as financial support for the newly-formed minority corporation. The state government constituted the corporation on March 5. Headed by Menezes, it has 12 other directors on the board.

Menezes along with vicechairperson Ashma Sayed, corporation directors Mustaq Mohiddin Shaikh, Shamser Khan, Salim Isani, Mustaq Javed Shaikh along with the director of social welfare S V Naik, deputy director Santan Fernandes met with Dastoor. He later interacted with other heads of departments, including the North and South Goa collectors.