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By M Ayub Khan, Toronto

The Milli Gazette Online

Dallas, TX: The decision to launch an All India Muslim Education Board was announced at an extra-ordinary meeting of the American Federation of Muslims of Indian Origin (AFMI) held in Dallas on 16 April in the presence of Dr. A.R. Kidwai (governor of Haryana) and A.M. Ahmadi (chancellor of AMU and former Chief Justice of India). The week-end retreat meeting was attended by 40 invited non-resident Indian professionals and community workers from across the US.

The meeting discussed the many challenges faced by minority institutions in India and deliberated on how to alleviate them. It acknowledged the fact that it is very difficult to overcome these challenges individually and hence the decision was taken to form an All India Muslim Education Board which will serve as a unified platform for Muslim educational institutions throughout the country. The proposed board will provide collective voice to the Muslim institutions and will greatly help in restoring their rights denied by central or state governments. 

Participants also discussed ways and means to increase literacy in the states of UP, Bihar, West Bengal and Assam. These four states have been selected for special attention by AFMI as they have shown lacklustre performance as reported in the census report of 2001. In relative comparison, other states have shown good progress in Muslim literacy levels in the last decade. 

Dr. A.R.Kidwai and Mr.Ahmadi voiced their support to the creation of the board and have offered their services in making it a success. 

Dr. Syed Samee, president of AFMI, expressed the hope that the board will accelerate the educational development of Indian Muslims in an organized and timely manner. 

Mr. Syed Akram, president-elect of AFMI, said the ideas and thoughts generated from this meeting will form the basis for launching a formal educational campaign at the national annual convention of the organization to be held in Dallas, Texas on 17 September 2005.

AFMI is a North American based grassroots organization dedicated to the socio-economic and educational development of Muslims and other underprivileged masses in India. AFMI has chapters in major cities of USA and in Toronto, Canada. AFMI's educational activities, notably its annual awards program for Muslim toppers in tenth and twelfth standards from across India, have been recognized for encouraging talent and promoting academic excellence among Indian Muslims.

For more information email afmi11@aol.com or visit: afmi.org