Lucknow, Oct 16 (IANS) Muslim clerics should “think beyond madrassas (seminaries) and mosques” for the development of the minority community in the true sense, said Abdul Ali Azizi, a member of the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC).”I appeal to ulemas (clerics) that they should move out of the confines of mosques and madrassas and cooperate in the development of villages and schools,” said Azizi at a press conference here Thursday.

He said the central government will soon release over Rs.50 million to set up hostels in Muslim-dominated areas of Uttar Pradesh to provide adequate residential facilities to poor students from the community.

Expressing concern over the state of Muslims in the state, Azizi said, “It is disheartening that in Uttar Pradesh, which boasts of improved development, representation of Muslims is fairly poor in the state’s minority and OBCs commissions.”

Taking this into account, various schemes must be taken up to increase representation of Muslims in such agencies, he said.