Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has asked minority communities to empower themselves through education as it can aid conversion of skills into opportunities. Addressing the conference, 'Taleem O' Tarbiyat' in Mumbai Friday, Mr. Jaitley asserted that Indian constitution provides protection to the minority community and affirmed that the government remains committed to the welfare of minorities. <br/><br/>The Finance Minister said higher growth rate impacts all by way of offering economic opportunities but accepted that certain minorities have lagged behind. He informed that poverty rate among Muslim community has gone down from 52 percent in 1991 to about 27 percent in 2011.<br/><br/>Mr Jaitley also said India is protected from all the political and economic challenges that the world is facing and it provides immense opportunity for the country to grow further. He said the country's economic growth is better than many of its peers and is in a sweet spot. He said the country will take the opportunity provided by stable political and economic environment and will grow further.