Lok Sabha Question No. 1322 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-11-23
Subject: Upliftment of Minority Communities
Ministry: MINORITY AFFAIRS
Asked by: RANJIT SINGH  BRAHMPURA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINORITY AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1322 TO BE ANSWERED ON 23.11.2016

## Upliftment of Minority Communities

## 1322.  SHRI RANJIT SINGH BRAHMPURA :

Will the Minister of MINORITY AFFAIRS be pleased to state :

- (a) provide  the  details  of  the  welfare  schemes/programmes for  upliftment  of  minority communities in the country especially Sikh community in Punjab;
- (b) whether  the  Government  has  any  monitoring  mechanism  for  implementation  of schemes for the development of minority communities and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) budgetary  allocation  made  and  its  utilization  of  funds  during  the  last  five  years, community and programme wise; and
- (d) whether the Government has received complaints for misuse of these funds and if so, the details thereof, State-wise and the action taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) IN THE MINISTRY OF MINORITY AFFAIRS (SHRI MUKHTAR ABBAS NAQVI)

(a) :   This Ministry is implementing following schemes/programmes for upliftment of  minority  communities  in  the  country  including  Sikh  community  namely  Multisectoral Development Programme, Pre-matric scholarship, Post-matric scholarship, Merit-cum-Means scholarship, Free Coaching & allied scheme,Maulana Azad Education  Foundation  -  Grant-in-aid  and  Maulana  Azad  National  Fellowship,Padho Pradesh,  Support for  minority  students  clearing  prelims  conducted  by  UPSC/SSC/State PSC etc., Nai Manzil, Seekho aur Kamao, Nai Roshini, USTTAD, Equity Contribution to National Minorities Development and Finance Corporation, and Jiyo Parsi. Apart from the above,  this  Ministry  also  monitors  Prime  Minister's  New  15  Point  Programme,  which  is being implemented by various other Ministries.

- (b): The Monitoring mechanism for various schemes implemented by this Ministry and the Prime Minister's  New15 Point Programme are as under-
- (i) Multi-sectoral Development Programme: There is a robust mechanism for monitoring of the programme. Block Level Committee (BLC) monitors the implementation

of MsDP at the block level. The District Level Committees and State Level Committees, constituted for implementation of the Prime Minister's New 15 Point Programme, are the Oversight  Committees  at  the  District  and  State  levels  to  monitor  the  progress  of implementation  of  MsDP.    The  State  Governments/UT  Administrations  are  required  to submit  quarterly  progress  reports  on  the  implementation  of  MsDP  to  this  Ministry.  The Empowered Committee  at  the  Centre  under  the  chairmanship  of  Secretary,  Ministry  of Minority Affairs, serves as the Oversight Committee  to monitor the progress of implementation  of  MsDP.  The  progress  of  implementation  of  the  programme  is  also monitored by this Ministry with the States/UTs through regular meetings and conferences as well as visits of officials.

- (ii) Pre-Matric  Scholarship,  Post-Matric  Scholarship  and  Merit-cum-Means  based Scholarship: These schemes are now on National Scholarship Portal (NSP), where online applications  are  obtained  from  the  students.  The  scholarships  are  disbursed  through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mode to the eligible students verified by the institutions and respective  State  Government/UT  Administrations  based  on  the  State/UT-wise  and Community-wise  allocation  made  by  this  Ministry.    The  accounts  of  the  students  are authenticated by the banks. Periodic reviews are undertaken with State Government/UT Administrations and banks for disbursal of scholarships to all eligible students.
- (iii) Free Coaching & Allied Schemes: This scheme is implemented through Government/Private coaching institutions/NGOs empanelled by the Ministry. The coaching institutions  are  inspected  by  State  Government/UT  Administrations  and  Ministry  officials wherever required.
- (iv) Maulana  Azad  Education  Foundation  (MAEF):  The  complete  proposals  seeking Grants-in-aid are referred for inspection, which is carried out by the empanelled Inspecting Authorities of MAEF or by the State Government Officials. The Grants-in-Aid sanctioned is released  in  two  instalments  and  inspection  is  again  carried  out  before  release  of second/final instalment.

Apart from this, the Government also conducts evaluation studies of the Schemes run by MAEF which includes Studies by Indian Institute of Public Opinion (IIPO), ORG Group and Indian Social Institute (ISI).

- (v)          Maulana  Azad  National  Fellowship  (MANF):  This  scheme  is  implemented  and monitored  through University Grants  Commission  (UGC)  as  per  their  norms  and guidelines.
- (vi) Padho Pardesh: Padho Pardesh is an interest subsidy scheme for higher studies abroad and implemented through banks. In this case the credentials of the students are verified by the banks. Ministry takes periodic review with the banks.
- (vii) Support  for  minority  students  clearing  prelims  conducted  by  UPSC/SSC/State Public Service Commissions etc.: This Scheme is directly implemented by the Ministry by inviting  applicationsonline  from  the  candidates  selected  in  the  Preliminary  examinations conducted  by  UPSC/SSC/State  Public  Service  Commissions  etc.  The  candidates  are verified  with  the  help  of  their  admit  card  of  prelims  exam,  results  etc.  The  funds  are transferred directly into their bank accounts.

(viii) Nai Manzil : This Scheme has been operationalized  from financial year 2016-17.

(ix)    Seekho  aur  Kamao:  Seekho  aur  Kamao  is  placement  linked  skill  development scheme for minorities. Monitoring and feedback are obtained at three levels i.e. Project Implementing Agencies (PIA) level(Infrastructure, facilities for trainees, faculties); Trainees feedback  (During  training  and  Post  placement);  and  Employer  level  (feedback  about standards  of  training  by  PIA  and  whether  it  matches  with  their  expectations  for  the market). The   2 nd instalment to PIAs is always released only after physical inspection/monitoring of projects in various States on random basis.

Moreover,  to  strengthen  the  Online  Monitoring  Mechanism,  an  Online  portal  of Seekho  Aur  Kamao  i.e.  www.seekhoaurkamao-moma.gov.in  has  been  launched  in December, 2015 for Management Information System (MIS) for the general public with details of Project Implementing Agencies (PIAs), trainees, trainers, location of projects etc. Important  information  about  Project  Implementing  Agencies,  training  centres,  locations, trainees,  sector  of  training  etc.  have  been  kept  in  public  domain  through  this  portal  to maintain transparency and also provide an opportunity for public scrutiny.

(x)    Nai Roshni - This is a Scheme for women empowerment through sensitization and leadership  Development  of  Minority  Women.  The  scheme  is  monitored  at  the  level  of District  Collector and local Panchayat / bodies. Funds are released to the organizations only after the inspection report is received by the Ministry from District Administration.

(xi) USTTAD - The scheme 'Upgrading the Skills and Training in Traditional Arts/Crafts for Development (USTTAD)' aims to preserve heritage of traditional arts/crafts of minorities and  build  capacity  of  traditional  artisans/craftsmen.  The  scheme  guidelines  provide  for conducting  concurrent  monitoring  through  independent  agency  and  online  monitoring mechanism.

(xii)  Equity  Contribution  to  National  Minorities  Development  and  Finance  Corporation (NMDFC)- Under this scheme,  fund is released by the Ministry to NMDFC, a CPSE under administrative control of the Ministry of Minority Affairs,  as Central Government's share of equity  contribution  to  the  authorized  share  capital  of  NMDFC.  Ministry  reviews/monitors the performance of NMDFC on Quarterly basis through Performance Review meetings.

(xiii)   Jiyo Parsi: It is implemented through community participation, so it is monitored by the community itself.

(xiv)The monitoring mechanism for implementation of the PM's New  15 Point Programme for the Welfare of Minorities are as under:

|   SNo | Level   | Brief Mechanism                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |
|-------|---------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|     1 | Central | Progress monitored on quarterly basis by Secretary Minority Affairs with Nodal Officers of various Ministries/Departments. Committee of Secretaries (CoS) reviews the progress on half yearly basis. Thereafter, the progress is reported to the Union Cabinet. |

|   2 | State    | Monitoring at State level is done by State Level Committee (SLC) under Chief Secretary. SLC includes up to two Members of Parliament from Lok Sabha and one from Rajya Sabha representing the State, nominated by the Central Govt. and two MLAs nominated by the State Govt. One of the Members included in SLC from Lok Sabha and Legis- lative Assembly should be elected from any of the Minority Concentration Districts in those States. SLC meets once in a quarter and sends quarterly progress reports to the Ministry of Minority Affairs.   |
|-----|----------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|   3 | District | Monitoring at District Level is done by a District Level Committee (DLC) under District Collector. DLC includes all MPs and MLAs from the district. Further, one MP from Rajya Sabha representing the State is nominated by the Central Govt. District Collector is required to convene regular meetings of DLC. DLC reports progress to the State Government dealing with minorities for placing it before the SLC.                                                                                                                                   |

(c):  Budgetary  allocation  and  its  utilization  programme-wise  for  last  five  years  are  as under. Community wise budget allocation is not made in this Ministry.

(inRs. crores)

| S. No   | Scheme                             | 2011-12                    | 2011-12                    | 2012-13                    | 2012-13                    | 2013-14                    | 2013-14                    | 2014-15   | 2014-15   | 2015-16   | 2015-16   |
|---------|------------------------------------|----------------------------|----------------------------|----------------------------|----------------------------|----------------------------|----------------------------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|
| S. No   | Scheme                             | BA                         | U                          | BA                         | U                          | BA                         | U                          | BA        | U         | BA        | U         |
| 1       | Pre-matric scholarship             | 600. 00                    | 615. 47                    | 900. 00                    | 786. 19                    | 950. 00                    | 963. 79                    | 1100. 00  | 1129.2 7  | 1040.1 0  | 898.72    |
| 2       | Post-matric scholarship            | 450. 00                    | 362. 99                    | 500. 00                    | 326. 55                    | 548. 50                    | 515. 76                    | 598.5 0   | 501.28    | 580.10    | 383.71    |
| 3       | Merit-cum- Means based scholarship | 140. 00                    | 115. 72                    | 220. 00                    | 181. 21                    | 270. 00                    | 260. 00                    | 335.0 0   | 381.27    | 335.00    | 387.00    |
| 4       | Free Coaching and Allied Scheme    | 16.0 0                     | 15.9 8                     | 14.4 2                     | 13.9 9                     | 25.0 0                     | 23.6 8                     | 25.00     | 31.48     | 45.00     | 44.87     |
| 5       | Maulana Azad National Fellowship   | 52.0 0                     | 51.9 8                     | 70.0 0                     | 66.0 0                     | 90.0 0                     | 50.0 0                     | 50.00     | 0.12      | 49.83     | 55.52     |
| 6       | PadhoParde sh-interest subsidy on  | Scheme launched in 2014-15 | Scheme launched in 2014-15 | Scheme launched in 2014-15 | Scheme launched in 2014-15 | Scheme launched in 2014-15 | Scheme launched in 2014-15 | 4.00      | 3.50      | 4.19      | 4.15      |

|    | educational loans for overseas studies                                               |                                 |                                 |                                 |                                 |                                 |                                 |         |         |          |          |
|----|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|---------|---------|----------|----------|
|  7 | Support for minority students clearing prelims conducted by UPSC/SSC/St ate PSC etc. | Scheme launched in 2013-14      | Scheme launched in 2013-14      | Scheme launched in 2013-14      | Scheme launched in 2013-14      | 3.00                            | 1.95                            | 4.00    |   2.96  | 4.00     | 3.97     |
|  8 | Multi Sectoral Development Programme                                                 | 1136 .36                        | 779. 90                         | 649. 56                         | 641. 27                         | 958. 53                         | 953. 07                         | 770.9 4 | 768.21  | 1126.6 4 | 1120.3 4 |
|  9 | Seekho aur Kamao                                                                     | Scheme launched in 2013-14      | Scheme launched in 2013-14      | Scheme launched in 2013-14      | Scheme launched in 2013-14      | 17.0 0                          | 17.0 0                          | 46.23   |  46.21  | 192.45   | 191.96   |
| 11 | Nai Roshni                                                                           | Scheme launched in 2012-13      | Scheme launched in 2012-13      | 12.8 0                          | 10.4 5                          | 14.7 4                          | 11.9 5                          | 14.00   |  13.99  | 15.00    | 14.99    |
| 12 | USTTAD                                                                               | Scheme launched in 2014-15      | Scheme launched in 2014-15      | Scheme launched in 2014-15      | Scheme launched in 2014-15      | Scheme launched in 2014-15      | Scheme launched in 2014-15      | 0.50    |   0.044 | 17.01    | 16.90    |
| 13 | Maulana Azad Education Foundation*                                                   | 200. 00                         | 200. 00                         | Nil                             | Nil                             | 160. 00                         | 160. 00                         | 113.0 0 | 113     | 113.00   | 113.00   |
| 14 | Nai Manzil                                                                           | Scheme was approved in 2015-16. | Scheme was approved in 2015-16. | Scheme was approved in 2015-16. | Scheme was approved in 2015-16. | Scheme was approved in 2015-16. | Scheme was approved in 2015-16. | 1.55    |   0     | 155.00   | 0.00     |
| 15 | Jio Parsi                                                                            |                                 |                                 |                                 |                                 | 2.00                            | 0.41                            | 2.00    |   0.5   | 2.00     | 1.18     |

BA= Budge Allocation; U= Utilisation

*This is the corpus fund provided to MAEF and MAEF runs both schemes on the interest generated by the corpus fund.

- (d):  All  Schemes  of  the  Ministry  except  Multi-sectoral  Development  Programme  (MsDP) are under Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mode; so the opportunity for   misuse of funds is minimised. MsDP is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) and is implemented by State Governments/Union Territories. Till date, no cases of misuse of funds in the implementation of the MsDP have been brought to the notice by any State Government or UT Administration. However, public references on implementation of schemes received in the Ministry, from time to time, are forwarded to the State Governments/UTs Administration  for  appropriate  action.  As  and  when  complaints  are  received  they  are examined and  forwarded to concerned authorities for further necessary action.

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