New Delhi, Jan 20 : Vice President Mohammed Hamid Ansari has called for practical solutions to solve the problems of the minorities.

Vice President Ansari was delivering the inaugural address at the "Annual Conference of State Minorities Commissions" in New Delhi on Tuesday.

The Vice President emphasized on the promotion of minority rights to strengthen the friendship and cooperation among peoples and States.

Ansari said, "Deprivation still exists in Minorities, despite given equal rights under law and this has impacted on the overall progress of the country."

"The policies and programmes initiated in the wake of the Sachar Report are indicative of the corrective action under way and the key to success lies in close monitoring of the implementation at ground level, he said.

Ansari also reminded the contribution of minorities in the political and social stability of States in which they live.

Human Resource Development Minister Arjun Singh, who was also present during the occasion, said, "madrassa students will be eligible for the government jobs on an equal footing as students passing the CBSE and Council of Board of School Education in India."

"A strong nation cannot be built unless all segments of society are treated at par and have access to education at all levels," he said. (ANI)