New Schemes of the Ministry of Minority Affairs in the 12th Five Year Plan

Based on the recommendations of the National Advisory Council (NAC) the Ministry of Minority Affairs has proposed to implement the following new schemes in the 12th Five Year Plan towards inclusive development to empower the minorities:

(i) Interest subsidy on educational loans for overseas studies scheme for the students belonging to minority communities with the objective of providing financial assistance by way of extending interest subsidy on education loans to students of  minority communities for pursuing higher studies abroad;

(ii) Free bicycle for Girl Students of Class IX with the objective of retention of minority girl students from Class IX onwards;

(iii) Support for students clearing Prelims Conducted by UPSC/SSC, State Public Service Commission (PSC) etc. with the objective to support candidates from the minority   communities who qualify at the preliminary Examinations conducted by Union  Public Service Commission (UPSC), Staff Selection Commission (SSC), State             Public Service Commissions (PSCs) etc. to improve their representation in    government services;

(iv) Scheme for promotion of education in 100 minority concentration towns/cities  having substantial minority population, for empowering the minorities. This would be in the form of providing infrastructure for various levels of schools, including teaching aids and also for up-gradation and construction of infrastructure for   skill and vocational education along with hostel facility;

(v) Village development programme for villages not covered by minority concentration blocks (MCBs)/ minority concentration  districts(MCDs) to address the development needs for 1000 villages inhabited by minority communities but falling outside the  selected minority concentration districts. The main objective of the scheme is to provide infrastructure for socio-economic development and basic amenities;

(vi) Support to Districts Level institution in MCDs to give financial support for setting up and running district level institutions for minority welfare in Minority Concentration Districts; and

(vii) Skill Development Initiatives to enhance employment and livelihood skills of  minorities by providing skills and skills up-gradation to the minority communities.

Earlier, the National Advisory Council had submitted its  report titled “Towards Inclusive Development to Empower Minorities” with the following major recommendations:

(i)   For implementation of the Multi sectoral Development Programme (MsDP) and Prime Minister’s New 15 Point Programme, rural and urban areas with a high concentration of minorities  should be the Unit of Planning with focus on access to basic services such as ICDS services, clean drinking water, individual sanitation, sewerage and drainage;

(ii) Formal engagement of non- governmental organizations (NGOs) in all the Minority Concentration Districts for monitoring and mandatory social audits;

(iii)  Substantially enhancing allocation for MsDP in 12th Plan;

(iv)  Revision of MsDP guidelines to ensure that need based proposals have synergy with the 15- Point Programme rather than duplication;

(v)  Establishment of a credible data bank on an urgent basis for operationalisation of the Assessment and Monitoring Agency;

(vi) Expansion of the 15 Point Programme to include schemes such as small and medium industries, youth affairs, agriculture;

(vii) Scholarships  Schemes: a) Make  the Pre-Matric scholarships a 100% Centrally Sponsored Scheme ; b) Make the Pre- matric and Post- matric scholarship Schemes   demand – driven and universal schemes; c) Increase the scholarship amount for Post- Matric scholarships with rationalized and differing scholarship structure for different categories (10+2, Basic Degree Courses, Professional Degree Courses); d) Increase amount and number of Merit-cum- means and Maulana Azad National Fellowships; e) Ensure a radical simplification of procedures at all levels to make schemes accessible to those who need them most; and

(viii) Establish residential social welfare hostels for minority children from class VI to XII and residential schools in minorities blocks and towns/cities.