Lok Sabha Question No. 113 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-07-20
Subject: Upliftment of Minorities
Ministry: MINORITY AFFAIRS
Asked by: Pushpendra Singh Chandel

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINORITY AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 113

## UPLIFTMENT OF MINORITIES

## 113. SH. KUNWAR PUSHPENDRA SINGH CHANDEL:

Will the Minister of Minority Affairs be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has taken any special measures for social and economic upliftment of backward classes under minority communities;

(b) if so, the details thereof; and

(c)  the  details  of  schemes  related  to  employment  opportunities  for  the  women  of  minority community  and  the  number  of  beneficiaries  under  the  said  schemes,  State/UT-wise  including Bundelkhand?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF MINORITY AFFAIRS (SHRIMATI SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)

(a) & (b): The Government of India implements various schemes for the welfare and upliftment of  every  strata,  including  minorities,  specially  the  economically  weaker  and  lesser  privileged sections  of  the  society,  through  various  schemes  of  the  Ministry  of  Skill  Development  and Entrepreneurship,  Ministry  of  Textiles,  Ministry  of  Culture,  Ministry  of  Women  and  Child Development and Ministry of Rural Development.

The Ministry of Minority Affairs specifically implements various schemes including scholarship schemes  for  educational  empowerment,  skilling  schemes  for  employment  and  economic empowerment,  provision  for  community  infrastructure,  etc.  across  the  country  for  socioeconomic and educational empowerment of the six (6) centrally notified minority communities.

(c) The  details of schemes  related to employment/  livelihood opportunities/ leadership development of minority communities including women are given below:

Seekho aur Kamao (SAK) scheme, launched in September 2013, specifically 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. 33% of the total seats under the Scheme were reserved for minority girl/ women candidates.

Nai Manzil scheme launched in August 2015 and rolled out in 2016-17, was implemented with an objective to benefit the minority youth who do not have formal school leaving certificate, i.e., those in the category of school-dropouts or educated in community education institutions like Madarasas. The scheme provided a combination of formal education (Class VIII or X) and skills and  enabled  the  beneficiaries  seek  better  employment  and  livelihoods.  30%  of  the  total  seats under the Scheme were reserved for minority girl/ women candidates.

USTTAD scheme, launched in 2015 targeted capacity building and upgrading of the traditional skills of master craftsmen/ artisans. 33% of the total seats under the Scheme were reserved for minority girl/ women candidates.

Nai  Roshni  scheme  was  launched  in  2012-13  with  an  objective  to  empower  and  instill confidence among minority women, including their neighbours from other communities living in the same village/locality through leadership development training.

These schemes were implemented by Project Implementing Agencies (PIAs) empanelled by the Ministry. The details  of  total  number  of beneficiaries  and  the number  of  women  beneficiaries covered under the said schemes since inception are as per the table below:

| Scheme Name      | Total Beneficiaries Covered   | Women Beneficiaries Covered   |
|------------------|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
| Seekho Aur Kamao | 4,68,367                      | 2,70,029                      |
| Nai Manzil       | 98,712                        | 54,233                        |
| USTTAD           | 21,611                        | 19,257                        |
| Nai Roshni       | 4,35,125                      | 4,35,125                      |

State/UT-wise details of the number of beneficiaries covered under skilling related schemes are available on the website of the Ministry at www.minorityaffairs.gov.in.

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