Question : New Schemes for Minorities

(a) the new welfare schemes proposed/announced by the Government during the last three years for the development of minorities;

(b) the details of the improvement in the standard of living of the minority communities through the implementation of these welfare schemes along with the outcome of these schemes;

(c) whether the Government has formulated any other schemes in addition to existing schemes for the betterment and welfare of minorities and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;

(d) whether the Government has any monitoring mechanism to check the implementation of such welfare schemes and if so, the details thereof; and

(e) whether the cases of irregularities and corruption in the implementation of such schemes have come to the notice of the Government during the said period and if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor along with the remedial measures taken by the Government in this regard?

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) IN THE MINISTRY OF MINORITY AFFAIRS
(SHRI MUKHTAR ABBAS NAQVI)
(a)to (c): The Government has been implementingthe following new welfare schemes for the
development of six Centrally notified minorities, namely, Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists,
Parsis and Jains, during the last three years:-

(1) “Padho Pardesh”– Scheme of interest subsidy on educational loans for overseas studies.
(2) Nai Manzil – A scheme for formal school education & skilling of school dropouts.
(3) USTTAD (Upgrading the Skills and Training in Traditional Arts/Crafts for Development).
(4) Hamari Dharohar - A scheme to preserve rich heritage of minority communities under the
overall concept of Indian Culture.
(5) Gharib Nawaz Skill Development Training for providing short-term job oriented skill
development courses to youths belonging to minority communities {implemented through Maulana
Azad Education Foundation (MAEF)}.
(6) Begum Hazrat Mahal National Scholarship for Meritorious Girls belonging to the Minorities
(implemented through MAEF).

The details of the schemes at serial No. (1) to (4) are available on the website of this Ministry
(www.minorityaffairs.gov.in) and those at serial No.(5) & (6) are available on the website of
MAEF (www.maef.nic.in).The Scheme-wisedetails of /funds allocated/utilized under different
schemes of the Ministry during each of the last three years and the current year are on the website of the Ministry at www.minorityaffairs.gov.in.

(d): These new schemes launched by the Ministry in the past three years have the following
monitoring mechanisms incorporated for the effective implementation of the schemes:-

(i) Padho Pardesh – This scheme is implemented by the Ministry through Canara Bank, which
also monitors implementation of the scheme.
(ii) Nai Manzil – A Project Monitoring Unit has been set up, which constantly monitors the project
implementation. In addition, the World Bank team also periodically monitors the scheme
along with Ministry officials.
(iii) Hamari Dharohar and USTTAD – These schemes are monitored by the Ministry in
consultation with the stakeholders.
(iv) The schemes of MAEF mentioned at Sl. No. (5) & (6) are monitored through the empanelled
Inspecting Authorities of MAEF.

(e): No cases of irregularities and corruption in the implementation of such welfare schemes
havecome to the notice of the Government, and whenever it is reported, actions and remedial
measures are taken as per the extant rules.

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