Question : Schemes for Welfare of Minorities

(a) whether the Government has taken initiative to assess implementation of various welfare schemes including 15 point programme and recommendations of Sachar Committee by various Ministries/ Departments and Skill Development in Textile sector and if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether funds were not allocated to some districts in various States including Maharashtra for these schemes and if so, the details thereof and the action proposed to be taken thereon;
(c) whether it is also a fact that a number of States have failed to pass on the benefits of welfare schemes to the minorities particularly to the Muslims in the country;
(d) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor; and
(e) the effective measures taken by the Government to ensure that the benefits of the schemes implemented for minorities actually reach the intended beneficiaries?

MINISTER OF MINORITY AFFAIRS
(SHRI MUKHTAR ABBAS NAQVI)

(a) to (e): Under the Prime Minister’s New 15 Point Programme (PM’s New 15-PP) for the welfare of minorities and pursuant to the follow-up action taken by the Government on Sachar Committee’s recommendations, including, inter-alia, on skill development in textile sector, with a view to enhance opportunities for education; ensure an equitable share for minorities in economic activities & employment through existing and new schemes; enhanced credit support for self-employment and recruitment to State and Central Government jobs, the Government has undertaken various schemes/ initiatives for the welfare of minorities. These schemes/ initiatives are being implemented by various Ministries/ Departments of the Central Government, including Ministry of Minority Affairs, either exclusively or by earmarking of 15% of overall physical / financial target (under the scheme) for the welfare of six notified minority communities namely, Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains and Parsis.

Ministry of Minority Affairs, being the nodal Ministry for implementation of the decisions taken by the Government on Sachar Committee report as well as the PM’s New 15-PP, monitors and reviews these schemes/ initiatives. The schemes/ programmes are reviewed in the Ministry of Minority Affairs on quarterly basis with the Nodal Officers of the concerned Ministries/ Departments for effective implementation of schemes. The shortfalls, if any, including in Maharashtra, are pointed out and the concerned Ministries/ Departments are advised to take remedial actions to ensure that the targets are achieved.

Details of the schemes/ programmes/ initiatives covered under Sachar Committee report and PM’s New 15-PP as well as the schemes/ programmes/ initiatives of the Ministry of Minority Affairs, are available on the website of Ministry of Minority Affairs at “www.minorityaffairs.gov.in”.

The performance of schemes/ initiatives of other Ministries and Departments included in the PM’s New 15-PP and follow-up action on Sachar Committee’s recommendations is evaluated by the Ministries concerned as evaluation and review are continuous processes. In respect of the schemes of the Ministry meant exclusively for minority communities, evaluation is carried out from time to time and is also a continuous process. Details of the evaluation studies conducted are available on the website of the Ministry at http://www.minorityaffairs.gov.in/sites/default/files/Evaluation%20studies%20-%20LS%203722.pdf.

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