MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF MINORITY AFFAIRS
(SHRI MUKHTAR ABBAS NAQVI)
(a) & (b) No report from Council for Social Development has been submitted to the Ministry. However, a report namely “India Social Development Report 2012- Minorities at the Margins” has been published by Council for Social Development in the year 2013. The report contains chapters on the socio-economic conditions of the minorities, particularly the Muslims.
(c) & (d) Multi-sectoral Development Programme (MsDP) MsDP was launched in 2008 to address the development deficits of backward minority concentration areas identified as 90 Minority Concentration Districts (MCDs) as a follow up to Sachar Committee recommendations. So far, projects with central share of Rs. 7220.47 crore have been approved under MsDP to create socio-economic infrastructure and provide basic amenities in the identified MCDs. The Guidelines for MsDP provide that priority should be given to projects that focus on villages/blocks/localities, having substantial minority population. Most of the projects taken under MsDP are for creation of community assets and the area of development being minority concentrated maximum benefit of the asset goes to minority community. Further, to ensure the intended benefits are passed on to the targeted minority population, the Ministry has restructured MsDP for sharper focus on minority concentration areas by making Minority Concentration Blocks/Towns (MCBs/MCTs) and Cluster of Villages as unit of planning and implementation.
(e) Apart from MsDP, the Ministry is implementing a number of other programmes/schemes of for the welfare of minorities. These are given below:
i. Schemes for educational empowerment – Ministry implements Pre-matric, Post-matric, Merit-cum-Means based scholarships and Maulana Azad National Fellowship. Under these schemes, 30% seats are earmarked for girl students. In addition, Maulana Azad Education Foundation implements a scheme exclusively for scholarship to girls belonging to minority communities. Assistance for free coaching is also provided to students for competitive examinations. A new scheme ‘Padho Pardesh’ has been launched for Interest subsidy on educational loans for minority students for their overseas studies. Another Scheme ‘Nai Udaan’ has also been started for giving financial support to minority candidates clearing preliminary exams conducted by Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), Staff Selection Commission (SSC) and State Public Service Commissions (SPSCs). Further, to strengthen educational infrastructure, construction of schools, additional classrooms, etc. is taken up under Multi-sectoral Development Programme. A new scheme namely ‘Nai Manzil’ – an integrated educational and livelihood initiative for Minority Communities has also been launched on 08.08.2015 on pilot basis for formal education of school dropouts and Madarsa students to enhance their education and skill for gainful employment.
ii. Scheme for economic empowerment - National Minorities Development and Finance Corporation (NMDFC) provides concessional loans to minorities. Ministry has also launched “Seekho aur Kamao (Learn & Earn)” for placement linked skill development of minorities in the year 2013-14. The scheme envisages a minimum of 75% employment of trained minority youth and out of them 50% in organized sector. Maulana Azad National Academy for Skill (MANAS) has been established on 11.11.2014 as a special purpose vehicle for addressing all skill development needs of minority community, to ensure provision of sustainable livelihood to them, with emphases on self employment. A new Scheme ‘Upgradation of Skills & Training in Traditional Arts/ Crafts for Development (USTTAD)’ has also been launched for implementation. The scheme aims at capacity building of minority artists and craftsmen including lesser known artists/ craftsmen.
iii. Scheme for Women empowerment - Ministry started “Nai Roshni”, an exclusive Leadership Development Programme for Minority Women during 2012-13. The scheme aims to empower and instill confidence among minority women by providing knowledge, tools and techniques for interacting with Government systems, Banks and other institutions.
iv. Development of vulnerable minority community - Ministry has launched a scheme with the name “Jiyo Parsi” during 2013-14 for containing population decline of Parsis in India. The scheme provides for financial assistance to Parsi married couples for medical treatment under standard medical protocols and also focuses on advocacy/ outreach programmes to generate awareness among Parsi population for lineage enhancement.
v. Prime Minister’s New 15 Point Programme – The Ministry is also implementing Prime Minister’s New 15 Point Programme for welfare of minorities. It is an overarching programme covering various schemes/ initiatives of different Ministries/Departments by either earmarking 15% of targets/ outlays for minorities or specific monitoring of flow of benefits/funds to minorities or areas with substantial minority population.
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