Lok Sabha Question No. 49 (STARRED), answered on 2025-12-03
Subject: Educational and Socio-Economic Upliftment of Minorities
Ministry: MINORITY AFFAIRS
Asked by: Shri Tariq Anwar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINORITY AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. †*49

ANSWERED ON 03.12.2025

## EDUCATIONAL AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC UPLIFTMENT OF MINORITIES

## †*49. SHRI TARIQ ANWAR:

Will the Minister of MINORITY AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  it  is  true  that  there  is  educational  backwardness,  high  unemployment  rate  and economic  vulnerability  among  minority  communities  particularly  the  Muslim  community  in Katihar district;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c)  whether  the  Government  has  launched  any  special  campaign  to  extend  the  benefits  of schemes like 'Padho Pardesh' to minority students in Katihar;
- (d) if so, the details thereof and the outcomes therefor; and
- (e)  the  concrete  plans  of  the  Government  to  promote  employment-oriented  skill  development programmes and entrepreneurship  in  minority-dominated  areas  of  Katihar  to  overcome  socioeconomic backwardness?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF MINORITY AFFAIRS (SHRI KIREN RIJIJU)

(a) to (e): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PART  (a)  to  (e)  OF  LOK  SABHA STARRED  QUESTION  No.  †*49  FOR  ANSWER  ON  03.12.2025  ASKED  BY  SHRI TARIQ ANWAR REGARDING 'EDUCATIONAL AND SOCIO -ECONOMIC UPLIFTMENT OF MINORITIES'

- (a) and (b): No  such  specific  data  on  educational  backwardness,  unemployment  rate  and economic vulnerability among minority communities is maintained in the Ministry. Hence, no data related to Katihar district is available.

However,  the  Ministry  of  Minority  Affairs  through  its  various  interventions,  works  towards improvement of the socio-economic conditions of six notified minority communities in India.

- (c) and (d): Padho Pardesh (an interest subsidy scheme), is not approved beyond 2021-22.

However, National Minorities Development & Finance Corporation (NMDFC), a PSU under Ministry, provides educational loan upto Rs.30 lakh to students for their education abroad, at lower  rate  of  interest  rate  of  3  %  per  annum,  exclusively  to  students  belonging  to  minority communities.

- (e): The Ministry of Minority Affairs implements the Pradhan Mantri Virasat Ka Samvardhan (PM VIKAS) as a Central Sector Scheme. The scheme focuses on upliftment of six notified minority communities through the following:
- i. Skilling  and  Training  (Non-traditional  and  traditional):  PM  VIKAS  places  strong emphasis on promoting employment-oriented skilling and entrepreneurship, among minorities. The scheme supports training in both traditional crafts and modern, high-growth sectors such as IT-ITeS, logistics, healthcare, electronics, and other emerging domains.
- ii. Women  Leadership  and  Entrepreneurship:  PM  VIKAS  seeks  to  empower  minority women  through  training  in  digital  literacy,  financial  inclusion,  community  leadership,  and livelihood enhancement. The programme  equips women  with  essential entrepreneurial competencies,  and  access  to  credit and  market  opportunities,  thereby  fostering greater economic participation.

Besides, under the term loan scheme of NMDFC, assistance is available for any commercially viable & technically feasible venture, in following sectors:

- (a) Agriculture & Allied; (b) Technical Trades; (c) Small Business; (d) Artisan & Traditional Occupations; (e) Transport & Service Sector.

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