MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF MINORITY AFFAIRS
(SHRI MUKHTAR ABBAS NAQVI)
(a) & (b): The Government had setup a high level committee to prepare a report on the socioeconomic
and educational status of minorities in India. Based on the findings of the committee,
on socio-economic conditions of minorities various schemes for improving educational social and
economic status of minorities are being implemented by the Government:-
(i) “Seekho aur Kamao” a placement linked skill development scheme for minorities, was started
in 2013-14. The scheme aims to upgrade the skills of minority youth in various modern/traditional
skills depending upon their qualification, present economic trends and market potential, which
can earn them suitable employment or make them suitably skilled to go for self-employment. The
scheme ensures placements of minimum 75% trainees, out of which at least 50% placement is in
organized sector. The scheme is implemented in States through selected Project Implementing
Agencies (PIAs).
(ii) The scheme of “USTTAD (Upgrading the Skills and Training in Traditional Arts/ Crafts for
Development)” was launched on 14.5.2015. The scheme aims at capacity building and updating
the traditional skills of master craftsmen/artisans; documentation of identified traditional
arts/crafts of minorities; set standards for traditional skills; training of minority youths in various
identified traditional arts/crafts through master craftsmen; and develop national and international
market linkages.
(iii) Nai Manzil is a new integrated education and livelihood initiative for the minority
communities. The scheme aims to benefit the minority youths in the age group of 17 to 35 years
who are school-dropouts or educated in the community education institutions like Madarsas, by
providing them an integrated input of formal education (up till Class VIII or X) and skill training
along with certification, with a view to enable them to obtain formal school learning certificate
and seek better employment. The scheme has been approved for $100 million for a period of 5
years. The World Bank has approved 50% of the funding i.e. $50 million.
Further, keeping in view the low level of literacy among minority women, their socioeconomic
backwardness, general lack of awareness about Government programmes and
social deprivation, Ministry of Minority Affairs implements an exclusive scheme “Nai
Roshni” for Leadership Development of Minority Women with an aim to empower and
instill confidence in women by providing knowledge, tools and techniques for interacting
with Government systems, banks and intermediaries at all levels. The scheme is implemented
through selected Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) all over the country.
The Government has taken note of the educational backwardness of the minority
communities and in response to schemes of scholarships/fellowships and financial assistance
are being implemented by this Ministry.
This Ministry is implementing the Multi-sectoral Development Programme (MsDP) in
indentified minority concentration areas to address the development deficits by creating
socio-economic infrastructure and providing basis amenities. No any specific problem has
been reported any State/UT or organization pertaining to MsDP.
Further, as per the provisions of Section 9 (1) (b) of the National Commission for Minorities
Act, 1992, the National Commission for Minorities (NCM) looks into specific complaints
regarding deprivation of rights and safeguards of minorities. On receipt of a complaint, the
matter is examined to see whether prima facie a case for intervention by NCM is made out
from the facts reported. Based on such an analysis, a report is sought from the respondent
authorities. If they agree to redress the grievance or where the plea of the complainant is not
tenable, the case reaches finality. If the reply is not satisfactory, further action is taken and, if
necessary, a hearing of the parties is held in the Commission. After hearing both sides, the
Commission finalises its recommendations and the same are forwarded to the concerned
authorities for appropriate action at their end, and a copy thereof is also forwarded to the
complainant.
(c) & (d) This Ministry implements only one Centrally Sponsored Scheme viz the Multisectoral
Development Programme (MsDP). The review of the scheme is an ongoing process.
The Ministry reviews the status of implementation of projects sanctioned under MsDP, the
status of utilization of central funds by States through submission of Utilization Certifications
and the status of approval of project proposals submitted by the State Governments. The
reviews are done during the meetings of Empowered Committee, Conferences and tours,
Based on these reviews, the Ministry in recent past has written letters from Joint Secretary
and Secretary Level to States for expediting the implementation of projects and submission of
new proposal. Under the Free Coaching and Allied Scheme, the criteria for empanelment of
NGOs is continuously reviewed.
(e) The details of students benefited under Scholarship Schemes namely Pre-matric,
Post-matric and Merit-cum-Means based Scholarship Schemes for the last three years are
available on the website of this Ministry i.e. www.minorityaffairs.gov.in.
The disbursal of scholarships for the year 2016-17, is yet to commence as the National
Scholarship Portal (NSP 2.0) has been operationalized on 01.07.2016 with submission of
online applications with effect from 15.07.2016.
The details of the coaching institutions providing Free coaching to minority students in the
country during the last three years and current year State-wise are available on the web-site of
this Ministry i.e. (www.minorityaffairs.gov.in).
(f) This Ministry receives proposals from the State/UT Governments for increasing number
of scholarships allocated to them. The same are examined and necessary action taken within
the overall Budget Provision/Physical Allocation under the three Scholarship Schemes viz.
Pre-matric Scholarship Scheme, Post-matric Scholarship Scheme & Merit-cum -Means Based
Scholarship Scheme.
During the last Annual Conference of State Minorities Commissions held on 24.02.2016 at
New Delhi organized by NCM, few States like West Bengal, Rajasthan, Bihar, and
Chhatisgarh raised the issue of increasing the limit/financial support of different scholarship
schemes of the Government for the minorities. The recommendations would be considered at
the time of revision of the scholarship schemes.
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