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MANGALORE: The government will set up Haj houses in Mangalore and Gulbarga in two years, said Wakf minister Qamar-ul Islam here on Sunday.
 
While addressing the media during his visit to Mangalore, he said the government has sanctioned two acres of land at Kenjar near Bajpe Airport to build a Haj House and Rs 3.5 lakh for fencing and for constructing a compound wall in the notified land.
 
Required fund for the remaining work will be discussed in the 2013-14 budget, he said and added that around 10 flights will fly from Mangalore Airport for Haj pilgrims. The house will benefit thousands of people from Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Chikmagalur, Kodagu district who will go for Haj every year.
 
Wakf minister Qamar-ul Islam, who also holds the minority development portfolio, said the government will introduce schemes to provide financial assistance of Rs 50,000 to meet the marriage expenditure of poor girls from minority communities. Though there are micro loan scheme for the minorities, in future, the government will provide loans to purchase sites and houses for minorities. Under this scheme, the government will provide 50 % subsidy, he added.
 
The minister said the government is mulling establishing information centres in every district and taluk headquarters for the benefit of minority community members. Presently, the government selected 10 districts in the state to set up information centres. Out of 10, the centres in eight districts have been already functioning, he added.
 
The centres will be set up at the office of the district minority director. Two employees will be appointed to provide information on facilities and various schemes available for minorities, he added.
 
He said to develop infrastructure in the state, panchayats will be upgraded and municipal administrations will be brought under the commissionerate. Around 18 town municipals will be upgraded as city municipalities, 15 town panchayats as town municipalities. As there is a population of 10,000 in 164 villages as per the 2011 census, those villages will be upgraded to town panchayats, he added. The process of upgradation will be as per the Act, the minister said.