Lok Sabha Question No. 5386 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-28
Subject: Participation of Muslim Women
Ministry: MINORITY AFFAIRS
Asked by: RAJU ALIAS DEVAPPA ANNA SHETTI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINORITY AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5386 TO BE ANSWERED ON 28.03.2018

## Participation of Muslim Women

## 5386.  SHRI  RAJU SHETTY :

Will the Minister of MINORITY AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether the Government is taking steps to ensure participation of Muslim women in the development process;
- (b)   if so, the details thereof;
- (c)   the measures being taken in this direction during the ongoing five year plan across the country particularly in Maharashtra; and
- (d)    the  road  map  prepared for  development  of  Muslim  population  in  Muslim  dominated areas of the country during the ongoing five year plan?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF MINORITY AFFAIRS (SHRI MUKHTAR ABBAS NAQVI)

- (a) to (d) :  The Ministry of Minority Affairs has implemented three specific schemes in all states/UTs  including  Maharashtra  which  are  exclusively  for  women/girls  from  the  six centrally  notified  minorities,  namely,  Muslims,  Christians,  Sikhs,  Buddhists,  Parsis  and Jains.   These schemes are as follows:-
- (i) Nai-Roshni - For leadership development of minority women belonging to notified minority  communities.  The  scheme  aims  to  empower  and  instill  confidence  in women by providing knowledge, tool and techniques for interacting with Government system and others at all levels. The scheme is implemented through selected Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) all over the country.
- (ii) Begum  Hazrat  Mahal  National  Scholarship  for  Meritorious  Girls  -  The  Scheme provides scholarships to meritorious girls studying from class IX to XII belonging to minorities. The scheme is implemented through Maulana Azad Education Foundation.
- (iii) Mahila Samridhi Yojana - The scheme is implemented through National Minorities Development & Finance Corporation (NMDFC) wherein skill development training is imparted  to  group  of  women  in  women  friendly  trades.  Training  period  is  of maximum  six  months  and  raw  material  cost  of  upto  Rs.1,500/-  per  trainee  and stipend @ Rs.1000/- per trainee is provided. During the period of training, women are formed into Self Help Group, followed by infusion of micro-credit maximum upto Rs.1.00  lacs  per  member  for  the  purpose  of  using  the  skill  developed  during  the training, for income generation activities.

Besides, the Ministry of Minority Affairs has also implemented the following schemes/programmes for educational empowerment of the minority community from the six centrally notified minorities, namely, Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Parsis and Jains with separate earmarking of targets for women/girls:-

- (1) Pre-Matric Scholarship Scheme
- (2) Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme
- (3) Merit-cum-Means based Scholarship Scheme
- (4) Maulana Azad National Fellowship
- (5) Free coaching and Allied Scheme
- (6) Nai Manzil - Integrated education and livelihood initiative for minority communities.
- (7) Padho Pardes - Scheme of Interest Subsidy on Educational Loans for Overseas Studies.
- (8) Nai Udaan - Support for students clearing Prelims conducted by UPSC, SSC, State Public Service Commission (PSC) .

At least 30% of the targets under the schemes at S.No. 1 to 7 above are earmarked for girl students. The aforesaid schemes have been implemented for the minority community in all the states/UTs including Maharashtra.

Details of all the  above  schemes  are  available  on  the  websites  of this Ministry (www.minorityaffairs.gov.in),  Maulana Azad Education Foundation (www.maef.nic.in) and NMDFC (www.nmdfc.org).

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