Lok Sabha Question No. 5232 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-04-02
Subject: Schemes/Programmes for Religious Minorities
Ministry: MINORITY AFFAIRS
Asked by: Dr. Prabha Mallikarjun

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINORITY AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5232

ANSWERED ON 02.04.2025

## SCHEMES/PROGRAMMES FOR RELIGIOUS MINORITIES

## 5232:DR. PRABHA MALLIKARJUN

Will the Minister of MINORITY AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- a) the details of Schemes and programmes implemented by the Ministry for the economic empowerment  and  skill  development  of  religious  minorities  in  the  country  including Karnataka;
- b) the details of funds sanctioned, released to the State of Karnataka for implementation of the  schemes  'Seekho  aur  Kamao'  (Learn  &  Earn),  Upgrading  Skill  and  Training  in Traditional  Arts/Crafts  for  Development  (USTTAD),  'Nai  Manzil'  scheme  to  provide education and skill training to the  youth from minority communities and 'Nai Roshni'Scheme for Leadership Development of minority women; and
- c) the  details  of  the  number  of  beneficiaries  under  the  said  schemes/programmes  in Davangere Lok Sabha Constituency along with the funds spent thereunder?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF MINORITY AFFAIRS

## (SHRI KIREN RIJIJU)

(a):  The  Ministry  of  Minority Affairs  has  launched  a  Central  Sector  Scheme,  Pradhan  Mantri Virasat Ka Samvardhan (PM VIKAS), which converges five erstwhile schemes viz. 'Seekho Aur Kamao',  'USTTAD',  'Nai  Manzil',  'Nai  Roshni'  and  'Hamari  Dharohar';  and  focuses  on upliftment of six notified minorities through skill development; entrepreneurship and leadership of minority women; and education support for school dropouts. Under the scheme, the Ministry has received some proposals and is in the process of short-listing and finalising the projects. A brief  of  these  converging  schemes  along  with  the  achievements  made  therein  specifically  in Karnataka is as under:

- i)  Seekho  aur  Kamao  (SAK) scheme,  started  in  2014-15,  targeted  to  upgrade  the  skills  of minority  youth  (14-45  years)  in  various  modern/  traditional  skills  depending  upon  their qualification,  prevailing  economic  trends,  and  market  potential,  that  could  earn  them  suitable employment or make them suitably skilled to take up self-employment. Since inception 4,68,170 candidates were trained under the scheme, out of whom 9,478 beneficiaries were from State of Karnataka.
2. ii)  USTTAD (and Hamari Dharohar) scheme started in  2015 and targeted capacity building and  upgrading  of  the  traditional  skills  of  master  craftsmen/  artisans.Since  inception  21,611 candidates  were  trained  under  the  scheme,  out  of  whom  45  beneficiaries  were  from  State  of Karnataka.
3. iii)  Nai  Roshni ,  a  Leadership  Development Programme for Minority Women was launched in 2012-13  with  an  objective  to  empower  and  instill  confidence  among  minority  women  by

providing knowledge, tools and techniques for interacting with Government systems, banks and other institutions at all levels.Since inception 4,35,125 candidates were trained under the scheme, out of whom 9,875 beneficiaries were from State of Karnataka.

- iv) Nai Manzil scheme started in 2015, and was implemented with an objective to benefit the minority  youth  who  do  not  have  formal  school  leaving  certificate.  The  scheme  provided  a combination of formal education (Class VIII or X) and skills and enabled the beneficiaries to seek  better  employment  and  livelihoods.Since  inception  98,712  candidates  were  trained  under the scheme, out of whom 2,368 beneficiaries were from State of Karnataka.
- (b) & (c): The aforesaid converging schemes were Central Sector Schemes, hence, State specific physical/  financial  target  allocations  were  not  made  therein.A  break-up  of  funds  sanctioned under the said converging schemes in the last (03) three years is as follows:

| Budget Sanctioned under Skilling schemes of the Ministry during 2022-23 to 2024-25 (Rs. in Cr.)   | Budget Sanctioned under Skilling schemes of the Ministry during 2022-23 to 2024-25 (Rs. in Cr.)   | Budget Sanctioned under Skilling schemes of the Ministry during 2022-23 to 2024-25 (Rs. in Cr.)   | Budget Sanctioned under Skilling schemes of the Ministry during 2022-23 to 2024-25 (Rs. in Cr.)   | Budget Sanctioned under Skilling schemes of the Ministry during 2022-23 to 2024-25 (Rs. in Cr.)   | Budget Sanctioned under Skilling schemes of the Ministry during 2022-23 to 2024-25 (Rs. in Cr.)   |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Schemes                                                                                           | SeekhoAur Kamao                                                                                   | Nai Manzil                                                                                        | USTTAD                                                                                            | Nai Roshni                                                                                        | PM VIKAS                                                                                          |
| 2022-23 to 2024-25                                                                                | 235.41                                                                                            | 46.1                                                                                              | 47.1                                                                                              | 2.6                                                                                               | 1,040                                                                                             |

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