Lok Sabha Question No. 1406 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-04
Subject: Welfare and Development Schemes for Minorities
Ministry: MINORITY AFFAIRS
Asked by: Shri Ramashankar  Vidharthi Rajbhar, Shri Imran Masood, Shri Rajeev Rai

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINORITY AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1406

ANSWERED ON 04.12.2024

## WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT SCHEMES FOR MINORITIES

## 1406. SHRI IMRAN MASOOD:

SHRI RAJEEV RAI:

SHRI RAMASHANKAR RAJBHAR:

Will the Minister of MINORITY AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) the  number  of  new  welfare  and  development  schemes  launched  for  the  minority  communities during the last ten years and the current year, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the  extent  of  success  achieved  by  the  Government  in  ensuring  welfare  and  development  of minority communities through these schemes, State-wise and minority community-wise;
- (c) the details of the fund allocation to the States for the implementation of the said scheme, Statewise and Scheme-wise particularly to Uttar Pradesh along with the percentage of funds utilised during the last five years and the current year;
- (d) the number of persons benefitted under the said schemes, scheme-wise; and
- (e) whether  there  is  any  uniformity  in  the  schemes  being  implemented  and  if  not,  the  reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF MINORITY AFFAIRS

(SHRI KIREN RIJIJU)

(a) to (e) : Following new schemes are launched for the minority communities during the last ten years and the current year:

- i)  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 beneficiaries have been trained under the scheme till date.

ii)  USTTAD  scheme  started  in  2015  and  targeted  capacity  building  and  upgrading  of  the traditional skills of master craftsmen/ artisans. Since inception, about 21,611 beneficiaries have been trained under the scheme till date.

These schemes were implemented through Project  Implementing Agencies (PIAs) selected by the Ministry via a transparent process at a pan-India level. Hence, State-wise fund allocation was not made under the schemes.

These schemes have now been converged into Pradhan Mantri Virasat Ka Samvardhan ( PM VIKAS). PM VIKAS is a flagship Scheme of the Ministry of Minority Affairs (MoMA) which converges five erstwhile schemes of the Ministry namely 'Seekho Aur Kamao', 'Nai Manzil', 'USTTAD', 'Nai Roshni', and Hamari Dharohar for the six notified minority communities. The Scheme focuses  on  upliftment  of  minorities  through  skill  development;  entrepreneurship  and leadership  of  minority  women;  and  education  support  for  school  dropouts.  The  PM  VIKAS scheme was launched this year but is yet to officially roll-out.

Further, the Government also implements various other schemes for the welfare and upliftment of every strata, including minorities, specially the economically weaker and lesser privileged sections of  the  society.  Ministry  of  Minority  Affairs  specifically  implements  various  schemes  across  the country for socio-economic and educational empowerment of the six (6) centrally notified minority communities. The Schemes/ programmes implemented by the Ministry are as under:

## 1. Educational Empowerment Schemes

- i. Pre-Matric Scholarship Scheme
- ii. Post Matric Scholarship Scheme
- iii. Merit-cum-Mean based Scholarship Scheme

## 2. Employment and Economic Empowerment Schemes

- i) National Minorities Development and Finance Corporation (NMDFC) :  NMDFC provides concessional  loan  to  'Backward  sections'  amongst  the  notified  minorities  for  selfemployment income  generation  activities  under  its  schemes  of  Term  loan,  Education  loan,  Virasat  scheme  & Micro Finance scheme through State Channelizing Agencies (SCAs) nominated by respective State Govt./ UT Administration and Canara Bank.

## 3. Infrastructure Development Scheme

- i) Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram (PMJVK): To Develop community infrastructure in the Minority Concentration areas of the country in the sectors viz. Health, Skill Development, Women Centric Projects, Drinking water and Supply, Sanitation and Sports.

## 4. Special Schemes

- (i) Jiyo Parsi: A Scheme for reversing the population decline of Parsis in India.

The details of these schemes are available on the website of the Ministry www.minorityaffairs.gov.in .

All the  schemes  together  have contributed in the acquisition of high level skills, greater opportunities  in  livelihood,  high  employability  potential,  improved  access  to  better  infrastructure, improved health and in the overall welfare of the Minority Communities.

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