(a) the steps being taken by the Government for the betterment of minorities in the country; and
(b) the funds allocated and spent so far for minority schemes during the last five years?
(a) the steps being taken by the Government for the betterment of minorities in the country; and
(b) the funds allocated and spent so far for minority schemes during the last five years?
MINISTER OF MINORITY AFFAIRS
(SHRI MUKHTAR ABBAS NAQVI)
(a): Government is working with commitment to ensure Development with Dignity, Empowerment without Discrimination, which has ensured prosperity in life of weaker and other needy sections of the society including Minorities. The approach of the Government has led to Minorities being equal partners with other communities, in the educational & socio-economic development of the country.
The Government is implementing various schemes for the welfare and upliftment of every section of the society including minorities especially economically weaker & downtrodden sections all over the country with schemes like Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY), Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY), Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM KISAN), Pradhan Mantri UjjwalaYojana (PMUY), Pradhan Mantri AwasYojana (PMAY), Beti Bachao Beti Padhao Yojana, etc.
Ministry of Minority Affairs also implements programmes/ schemes for socio-economic and educational empowerment of the six (6) centrally notified minority communities namely Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Parsis, Jains and Muslims,. These schemes/programmes in brief are as under:-
(1) Pre-Matric Scholarship Scheme, Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme, Merit-cum-Means based Scholarship Scheme - For educational empowerment of students through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT ) mode.
(2) Maulana Azad National Fellowship Scheme - Provide fellowships in the form of financial assistance.
(3) Naya Savera - Free Coaching and Allied Scheme - The Scheme aims to provide free coaching to students/candidates belonging to minority communities for qualifying in entrance examinations of technical/ professional courses and Competitive examinations.
(4) Padho Pardesh - Scheme of interest subsidy to students of minority communities on educational loans for overseas higher studies.
(5) Nai Udaan - Support for students clearing Prelims conducted by Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), State Public Service Commission (PSC) Staff Selection Commission (SSC) etc.
(6) Nai Roshni - Leadership development of women belonging to minority communities..
(7) Seekho Aur Kamao - Skill development scheme for youth of 14 - 35 years age group and aiming at improving the employability of existing workers, school dropouts etc.
(8) Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram (PMJVK)- Ministry of Minority Affairs implements the scheme Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram (PMJVK) in identified Minority Concentration Areas (MCAs) of the country with the objective of developing socio-economic assets and basic amenities for improving quality of life of the people living in these areas. The Coverage of the scheme has extended in 2018-19 to 1300 MCAs in 308 districts of the country which includes 870 Minority Concentration Blocks, 321 Minority Concentration Towers and 109 Minority Concentration District Hqrs. The priority sectors under PMJVK are education, health, skill development and women centric projects.
(9) Jiyo Parsi - Scheme for containing population decline of Parsis in India.
(10) USTTAD (Upgrading the Skills and Training in Traditional Arts/Crafts for Development)
(11) Nai Manzil - A scheme for formal school education & skilling of school dropouts.
(12) Hamari Dharohar- A scheme to preserve rich heritage of minority communities of India under the overall concept of Indian culture.
(13) Maulana Azad Education Foundation (MAEF) implements education and skill related schemes as follows:- (a) Begum Hazrat Mahal National Scholarship for Meritorious Girls belonging to the economically weaker sections of Minorities (b) Gharib Nawaz Employment Scheme started in 2017-18 for providing short term job oriented skill development training to youth (c) Bridge Course for madarsa students & school dropouts.
(14) Equity to National Minorities Development and Finance Corporation (NMDFC) for providing concessional loans to minorities for self-employment and income generating ventures.
In addition to the above, the Ministry also implements schemes for strengthening State Waqf Boards and coordinates arrangements for annual Haj pilgrimage.
The details of the schemes (S. No.1 to 12) mentioned above and status of their implementation are available on the website of this Ministry (www.minorityaffairs.gov.in) and those at serial No.(13) and (14) are available on the website of MAEF (www.maef.nic.in) and NMDFC (www.nmdfc.org) respectively.
(b): During the period from 2015-16 to 2019-20, total fund allocated for Ministry of Minority Affairs was Rs. 21160.84 crore and actual expenditure was Rs. 19,201.45 crore which is approx 90.75% of total fund allocated.
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