Lok Sabha Question No. 4270 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-19
Subject: Socio-Economic Status of Minority Communities
Ministry: MINORITY AFFAIRS
Asked by: Shivkumar Chanabasappa Udasi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINORITY AFFAIRS LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4270 TO BE ANSWERED ON 19.3.2020 SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS OF MINORITY COMMUNITIES

## 4270. SHRI SHIVAKUMAR C. UDASI :

Will the Minister of MINORITY AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a)  the details of the socio-economic and educational status of minorities in the country;
- (b)  the  details  of  schemes  which  have  been  launched  for  minorities  and  the  success achieved so far; and
- (c)  the  other  steps  taken  to  improve  the  socio-economic  and  educational  status  of minorities?

## A N S W E R MINISTER OF MINORITY AFFAIRS (SHRI MUKHTAR ABBAS NAQVI)

(a)  to  (c)  The  Ministry  of  Minority  Affairs  has  adopted  a  multi-pronged  strategy  by  way  of implementation of various schemes which aim at educational empowerment, employmentoriented skill development, infrastructure support, etc. for the upliftment of living standards of the six centrally notified minorities (Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Buddhists, Parsis and Jains). Details of these schemes are as under:

## (A) Educational Empowerment:

- (i) Scholarship  Schemes  -  Pre-Matric  Scholarship,  Post-Matric  Scholarship  and Merit-cum-Means  based  Scholarship.  Since  2014-15,    3.74  crore  scholarships have been provided.
- (ii) Naya Savera - Free Coaching and Allied Scheme with the aim to enhance skills and  knowledge  of  students  and  candidates  from  minority  communities  to  get employment  in  Government  Sector/  Public  Sector  Undertakings,  jobs  in  private sector and admission in reputed institutions in technical and professional courses at under-graduate and post-graduate levels.
- (iii) Nai  Udaan  -  a  scheme  for  providing  support  to  minority  candidates  clearing Prelims  conducted  by  Union  Public  Service  Commission,    State  Public  Service Commissions etc.,  to adequately equip them to compete for appointment to Civil Services in the Union and the States.
- (iv) Padho Pardes - A scheme for providing interest subsidy on educational loans for overseas studies to enable students from minority communities to pursue higher education.
- (v) Maulana  Azad  National  Fellowship  Scheme  provides  financial  assistance  to students from notified minority communities, to pursue higher education such as M. Phil and Ph. D.
- (vi) In  addition,  the  Maulana    Azad  Education  Foundation  implements  the  following two schemes:
- (a)  Begum Hazrat Mahal National Scholarship for meritorious girls belonging to minorities from class IX to XII.
- (b)  Gharib Nawaz Employment Programme.

## (B)      Economic Empowerment:

## (i)  Employment-oriented Skill Development: programme

- (a) Seekho  aur  Kamao  (Learn  &  Earn):  It  is  a  skill  development  initiative  for minorities  and  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.
- (b) Upgrading  Skill  and  Training  in  Traditional  Arts/Crafts  for  Development (USTTAD)  -  The  scheme  aims  at  capacity  building  and  upgrading  of  the traditional skills of master craftsmen and artisans; documentation of identified traditional arts/crafts of minorities; set standards of traditional skills; training of minority  youths  in  various  identified  traditional  arts/crafts  through  master craftsmen; develop national and international market linkages; and preservation of languishing Arts/Crafts. Hunar Haats are organized in various parts of the country, which provides direct and indirect employment to skilled artisans and craft persons.
- (c) Nai Manzil - A scheme to provide education and skill training to the youth from minority communities.
- (ii)  National  Minorities  Development  Finance  Corporation  (NMDFC)  Loan  Schemes which provide concessional loans for self-employment and income generating activities

for  the  socio-  economic  development  of  the  backward  sections  amongst  the  notified minorities.

(iii) Priority Sector Lending by Banks.

## (C) Infrastructure Support:

Besides,  there  is  another  Scheme  namely  Pradhan  Mantri  Jan  Vikas  Karyakram (PMJVK),  which  aims  at  improving  the  socio-economic  conditions  of  minorities  and providing basic amenities so as to improve their quality of life and reduce imbalances in the identified Minority Concentration Areas.  The major projects approved under the Education  Sector  and  for  Skill  Development,  include  Residential  Schools,  School buildings,  Hostels,  Degree  Colleges,  ITIs,  Polytechnics,  Sadbhav  Mandaps,  Health Centers, Working Women Hostels etc.  80% of the resources under the scheme are earmarked for projects related to Education, Health and Skill Development.  Further 33 to 40% of resources are allocated for women centric projects.

Also,  under  the  Prime  Minister's  New  15  Point  Programme  for  the  Welfare  of Minorities, schemes/initiatives are being implemented by various Ministries/Departments  of  the  Central  Government  throughout  the  country,  including Ministry  of  Minority  Affairs,  either  exclusively  or  by  earmarking  of  15%  of  overall physical/financial target, wherever feasible, for the welfare of notified minorities.

The details of various schemes, being implemented by the Ministry of Minority Affairs, as well as other Ministries/Departments for the welfare of minorities and  the achievements made there under are available on the website of the Ministry of Minority Affairs at - www.minorityaffairs.gov.in.

The details of finding of study by a High Level Committee (2005) regarding the 'Socioeconomic and educational Status of the Muslim Community of India' are available on the website www.minorityaffairs.gov.in.

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