Lok Sabha Question No. 672 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-02-04
Subject: Distribution of Scholarship among Minority Sections
Ministry: MINORITY AFFAIRS
Asked by: T.N. Prathapan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINORITY AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 672 TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.02.2021

## DISTRIBUTION OF SCHOLARSHIP AMONG MINORITY SECTIONS

## 672. SHRI T.N. PRATHAPAN:

Will the Minister of MINORITY AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has any particular proportion in the distribution of scholarships among various minority sections;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
- (c)  whether  the  Government  proposes  to  implement  the  recommendations  of  Sachar Commission  in  the  distribution  of  scholarships,  fellowships  and  educational  opportunities; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

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

(a) & (b): The Ministry of Minority Affairs implements Pre-Matric, Post-Matric and Meritcum-Means  based  Scholarship  Schemes  for  the  educational  empowerment  of  students belonging to the economically  weaker section of the six notified minority communities i.e. Buddhist, Christian, Jain, Muslim, Sikh, Zoroastrian (Parsi) in all the States/UTs across the country.  The  distribution  of  the  number  of  Scholarships  among  economically  weaker sections  of  minority  communities  and  States/Union  Territories  is  made  on  the  basis  of proportionate population of minorities in the States/Union Territories as per Census 2011.

(c) & (d): Pursuant  to  submission  of  report  by  the  Sachar  Committee  and  under  the Prime Minister's New 15 Point Programme (PM's New 15-PP) for the welfare of minorities, the Government took various initiatives for the socio-economic and educational empowerment of every section of the society under the six notified minority communities i.e. Buddhist, Christian, Jain, Muslim, Sikh, Zoroastrian (Parsi). These schemes/ initiatives are being implemented by various Ministries/ Departments of the Central Government, including Ministry of Minority Affairs, either exclusively or by earmarking of 15% of overall physical / financial target.

Ministry of Minority Affairs, being the nodal Ministry for implementation of the decisions taken by the Government on Sachar Committee report as well as the PM's New 15-PP, monitors and  reviews  these  schemes/  initiatives.  The  schemes/  programmes  are  reviewed  in  the Ministry  of  Minority  Affairs  on  quarterly  basis  with  the  Nodal  Officers  of  the  concerned

Ministries/ Departments for effective implementation of schemes. The shortfalls, if any, are pointed out and the concerned Ministries/ Departments are advised to take remedial actions to ensure that the targets are achieved.

Details of the schemes/ programmes/ initiatives covered under Sachar Committee report and PM's New 15-PP as well as the schemes/ programmes/ initiatives of the Ministry of Minority Affairs, are available on the website of Ministry of Minority Affairs at 'www.minorityaffairs.gov.in'.

The Government during the last six years, i.e. during 2014-15 to 2019-20 has provided 3.85 crore scholarships to students from six centrally notified minority communities. Out of these, girls constitute more than 50% of the beneficiaries. The three scholarship schemes are now being implemented through the National Scholarship Portal. Since 2015, these schemes are being  implemented  under  direct  benefit  transfer  (DBT)  mode  to  improve  the  efficiency  by removing duplicity and stopping possible pilferages.

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