Lok Sabha Question No. 295 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-02-03
Subject: Exclusion of Muslim Communities from Government Schemes
Ministry: MINORITY AFFAIRS
Asked by: Balubhau (Alias Suresh Narayan) Dhanorkar, Mohammad Jawed, Behanan Benny, T.N. Prathapan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINORITY AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 295 ANSWERED ON 03.02.2022

## EXCLUSION OF MUSLIM COMMUNITIES FROM GOVERNMENT SCHEMES

## 295 . SHRI BALUBHAU ALIAS SURESH NARAYAN DHANORKAR:

DR. MOHAMMAD JAWED: SHRI BENNY BEHANAN: SHRI T.N. PRATHAPAN:

Will the Minister of MINORITY AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has formulated any guidelines to classify minorities based on their population, State-wise;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether the Government is aware of the existence of different communities of Muslims such as Indigenous Pasmanda and Muslim communities like Surjapuri who are socioeconomically  backward  who  are  often  excluded  from  various  Government  schemes  and reservation and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether the Government seeks formulate guidelines to further identify and classify Muslims based on the different sections of the Muslim society; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (e)  Government notifies the minorities as per Section 2(c) of the National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992; which states that 'Minority',  means a community notified as such by the Central  Government.    The  Central  Government  has  notified  six  communities  as  minority communities  namely  Muslims,  Christians,  Sikhs,  Buddhists,  Parsis  and  Jains  under  power conferred by Section 2(c) of the National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992.

The  Government  has  implemented  various  schemes  for  the  welfare  and  upliftment  of  every section  of  the  society  including  minorities.    The  schemes  being  implemented include  Pradhan

Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY), Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY), Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM KISAN), Pradhan Mantri UjjwalaYojana (PMUY), Pradhan Mantri AwasYojana (PMAY), Beti Bachao Beti Padhao Yojana, etc. Also minorities belonging to EWS category  can  avail  the  benefit  of  ten  percent  reservation  in  employment  and  admission  in educational institutions.

Further,  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 economically  weaker  &  downtrodden  sections  of  all  notified  minorities  (Muslims,  Sikhs, Christians, Buddhists, Parsis and Jains) irrespective of their further classifications. The details of the schemes are:

## A. Educational Empowerment Schemes :-

- (1) Pre-Matric Scholarship Scheme, Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme, Merit-cum-Means based Scholarship Scheme - For educational empowerment of students through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mode.
- (2) Maulana Azad National Fellowship Scheme - Provide fellowships in the form of financial assistance.
- (3) Naya Savera - Free Coaching and Allied Scheme - The Scheme aims to provide free coaching to students/candidates belonging to minority communities for qualifying in entrance examinations of technical/ medical professional courses and various Competitive examinations.
- (4)  Padho  Pardesh  -  Scheme  of  interest  subsidy  to  students  of  minority  communities  on educational loans for overseas higher studies.
- (5)  Nai  Udaan  -  Support  for  students  clearing  Prelims  conducted  by  Union  Public  Service Commission  (UPSC),  State  Public  Service  Commission  (PSC)  Staff  Selection  Commission (SSC) etc.

## B. Employment oriented schemes:-

(6) Seekho Aur Kamao - Skill development scheme for youth of 14 - 35 years age group and aiming at providing employment and employment opportunities, improving the employability of existing workers, school dropouts etc.

(7) USTTAD (Upgrading the Skills and Training in Traditional Arts/Crafts for Development). Hunar  Haat  are  being  organised  across  the  Country  to  provide  employment  opportunities  and markets to artisans/craftsmen.

(8) Nai Manzil - A scheme for formal school education & skilling of school dropouts.

(9) Nai Roshni - Leadership development of women belonging to minority communities.

## C. Infrastructure Development Programme :-

(10)  Pradhan  Mantri  Jan  Vikas  Karyakram  (PMJVK)  -  Being  implemented  to  provide  basic infrastructure  in  identified  areas  of  the  Country.  Since  inception,  under  PMJVK,  42  Degree Colleges, 180 Residential Schools, 3,062 School Buildings, 43,838 Additional Class Rooms/ACR  Blocks,  15,545  Teaching  Aid  &  Smart  Classrooms,  1,376  Hostels,  24  Working Women Hostels, 232 ITI Buildings, 55 Polytechnics, 21 Skill Centres, 5,382  Health Projects, 01 Unani  Medical  College,  81,503  Drinking  Water  Supply  Projects,  40,795  Anganwadi  Centres, 408 Sadhbhav Mandaps, 01 Sadbhav Kendra, 168 Common Service Centres, 609 Market Sheds, 09 Hunar Hubs, 9,330 Sanitation/Toilet projects, 76 Sports Facilities, etc. have been sanctioned.

The details of the schemes (S. No.1 to 10) mentioned above and status of their implementation are available on the website of this Ministry (www.minorityaffairs.gov.in).

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