Progress of Welfare Schemes for the Minorities

Progress of Welfare Schemes for the Minorities The Lok Sabha has been informed that in 2007-08, against the plan budget (Revised Estimates) of Rs. 350 crore for the Ministry of Minority Affairs, Rs. 196.65 crore (58.18%) were released to States / UTs for implementation of schemes for welfare of minorities. Giving this information in written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha, Shri Vincent H. Pala, Minister of State for Minority Affairs, said that in 2008-09, the plan budget (Revised Estimates) was enhanced to Rs. 650 crore, of which Rs. 619.02 crore (95.23%) were released. In 2009-10, the plan budget (Revised Estimates) was further increased to a level of Rs. 1,740 core and Rs. 1,710.89 crore (98.33%) were released. The plan budget for the year 2010-11 is Rs. 2,500 crore (Revised Estimates) and so far Rs. 1,721.84 crore (68.87%) have been released.

Shri Pala also informed the House that the Government has introduced a number of schemes for improving the status of minorities and these include Pre-matric Scholarship Scheme, Post-matric Scholarship Scheme, Merit-cum-Means Scholarship Scheme for technical and professional courses, Maulana Azad National Fellowship for research scholars, Free Coaching & Allied Scheme for students from the minority communities and a special area development programme called Multi-sectoral Development Programme (MsDP) in 90 minority concentration districts. In addition to these, the corpus of Maulana Azad Education Foundation (MAEF) and authorized share capital of the National Minorities Development & Finance Corporation (NMDFC) have been enhanced from Rs. 100 crore and Rs. 650 crore in 2006-07 to Rs. 550 crore and Rs. 1000 crore in 2010-11, respectively. Further, under the Prime Minister’s New 15 Point Programme for the welfare of minorities, it has been ensured that wherever possible, 15% targets and outlays under various schemes amenable to targeting have been earmarked for minorities and a certain proportion of development projects are located in minority concentration areas.