Lok Sabha Question No. 3847 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-08-12
Subject: Funds for MSDP
Ministry: MINORITY AFFAIRS
Asked by: C.R. CHAUDHARY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF MINORITY AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3847 TO BE ANSWERED ON 12.08.2015

## Funds for MSDP

## 3847.  SHRI C.R. CHAUDHARY:

Will the Minister of MINORITY AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has identified bottlenecks responsible for the underutilisation of plan funds allocated for the minorities welfare;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the details of the steps taken by the Government to enhance the spending of the allocated plan funds for minorities welfare;
- (d)  whether the Government is aware of the condition of minority women in the country and the problems generally encountered by them; and
- (e) if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  in  this regard?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF MINORITY AFFAIRS (SHRI MUKHTAR ABBAS NAQVI)

(a) and (b) Yes  Madam, this Ministry has identified  some of the bottlenecks responsible  for  under  utilization  of  funds  allocated  for  the  minority  welfare  under  the following two schemes namely MsDP and three Scholarship Schemes.  Regarding other 8 schemes implemented by this Ministry, no gross under utilization of funds have been noticed.

## I. The scheme wise details of bottlenecks responsible and reasons behind under utilization of plan funds allocated for the minority welfare are detailed below:

## 1. Multi-sectoral Development Programme (MsDP):

Under  the  Scheme  of  Multi-sectoral  Development  Programme  (MsDP),  the  major reasons  behind  slow  utilization  of  funds  are  non-availability  or  delayed  availability  of land, delay in submission of  utilization certificates for  the previous releases, inordinate delay in transfer of funds by the State to the district/implementing agency, non release of state's share, delay in identification of implementing agency etc. Many of the MsDP projects being large infrastructural projects, like ITI, Polytechnic, Colleges, and Degree colleges etc. have long gestation period hence delay in implementation of the schemes.

## 2. Scholarship Schemes:

As far  as  the  three  Scholarship  Schemes  viz  Pre-matric  Scholarship  Scheme,  Postmatric  Scholarship  Scheme  and  Merit-cum-Means  based  Scholarship  Scheme  are concerned this Ministry faced bottlenecks in transfer of Scholarships amount in the bank accounts of students due to the following reasons:-

- i. Beneficiary mismatch.
- ii. IFSC Code Mismatch.
- iii. Inactive Account.
- iv. Incorrect Account number fed by the students etc.

## II. Schemes for which there is no significant under utilization of funds:

However, it is also informed that there is no under utilization of funds under the following schemes of this Ministry:

- i. Maulana Azad National Fellowship
- ii. Free  Coaching  and  Allied  Scheme,  Support  to  minority  Candidate  clearing Prelims  conducted  by  UPSC/SSC,  State  Public  Service  commission  (PSC) etc.
- iii. Padho Pardesh-Interest Subsidy on Educational Loans for overseas studies,
- iv. Seekho aur Kamao (Learn & Earn)
- v. Nai Roshni (Leadership Development of Minority Women)
- vi. 'USTTAD  (Upgrading  the  Skills  and  Training  in  Traditional  Arts/Crafts  for Development)'
- vii. Loan Schemes of National Minorities Development and Finance Corporation (NMDFC), and
- viii. Maulana Azad National Academy for Skills (MANAS).
9. (c) Steps taken by  this Ministry  to expedite  the  utilization of the plan  funds for the minority welfare:
- i. To expedite the utilization of funds under various schemes being implemented by this Ministry, regular reviews are being  held with the State Governments involved in implementation of these schemes.
- ii.          National and  Regional  level conferences are being  held  with the officials of States/UTs to review the progress of MsDP.
- iii. Further, the officials of this Ministry visit the States  and review the implementation of the schemes.
- iv. In addition, as a follow up action, regular review meetings with States/UTs are held through Video conferencing.
- v. States/UTs  are  also  reminded  and  sensitized  through  communications  at higher level officials of this Ministry for further utilization of funds.
- vi. In  order  to  further  strengthen  the  implementation  mechanism  under  the scheme 'Nai  Roshni'  an  Online  Application  and  Management  System  has been developed.
- vii. Similarly,  a  Management  Information  System  (MIS)  is  being  developed  for e-monitoring  and  post  placement  tracking  under  the  scheme  'Seekho  aur Kamao'.

(d) and (e) Yes Madam, this Ministry is aware of the condition of the minority women in the country and the problems generally encountered by them. In order to improve the socio-economic  and  educational  condition  of  minority  communities  including  minority women, this Ministry implements the following 8 schemes across the country;

- i. Pre-Matric Scholarship Scheme,
- ii.        Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme
- iii.        Merit-cum-Means based Scholarship Scheme
- iv.       Maulana Azad National Fellowship
- v. Free Coaching and Allied Scheme
- vi. Support  to  minority  Candidates  clearing  Prelims  conducted  by  UPSC/SSC, State Public Service Commission (PSC) etc.
- vii. Padho Pradesh-Interest Subsidy on Educational Loans for overseas studies

Minimum 30% Scholarship/Fellowships are earmarked for minority girls under all these  schemes  except  the  Scheme  at  S.No.  vi  above  namely  Support  to  minority Candidates  clearing  Prelims  exam  conducted  by  UPSC/SSC,  State  Public  Service Commission (PSC) etc.

- viii. Maulana Azad Scholarship for Meritorious  Girls  Students:    This  scheme  is implemented by Maulana Azad Education Foundation.  Under  this scheme, financial assistance is provided to the minority girl students @Rs. 6000/- per annum and maximum of Rs. 12000-/ for two years i.e. 11 th and 12 th classes.

## This  Ministry  is  also  implementing  the  following  schemes  for  improving  the conditions of minority women in the country:

- i. Nai  Roshni:    the  scheme  for  Leadership  Development  of  Minority  Women from  2012-13.  The  scheme  is  being  implemented  with  the  objective  to empower  and instill confidence among  minority women  by  providing knowledge,  tools  and  techniques  for  interacting  with  Government  system, Banks and other institutions at all  levels.  In  the  last three  years, more  than 1.67  lakh  women  have  been  trained  on  various  issues  like  participation  in decision making, educational programmes,  health and  hygiene,  legal rights, government mechanisms etc.
- ii. Multi-sectoral Development Programme: Under this scheme 27595 Anganwadi centres for women were set up during the 11 th Five Year Plan and till  September 2013, 5269 Anganwadi Centres  have been set  up in the 12 th Five Year Plan for the development of the women.
- iii. National Minorities Development and Finance Corporation (NMDFC):
4. (a) NMDFC is a Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) under administrative control  of  this  Ministry,  which  provides  concessional  loans for selfemployment and income generating activities  to  eligible  minorities.  The loans are extended to individuals or Self-Help Groups mostly dominated by minority women through State Channelizing Agencies (SCAs) nominated by the concerned State Governments/UT administrations.
5. (b) Mahila Samridhi Yojana: A unique Scheme linking Micro credit  with the training  to  the  women  members  to  be  formed  in  the  Self  Help  Groups (SHGs) in women-friendly trades such as tailoring, cutting and embroidery etc.  has been launched by  NMDFC.  The Scheme is being implemented through  the  State  Channelising  Agencies  of  NMDFC  as  well  as  NGOs. The  maximum  duration  of  the  training  is  of  six  months  with  maximum training expenses of Rs. 1500 per month per trainee. During the training a stipend  of  Rs.  1000  is  also  paid  to  the  trainees.  The  training  cost  and stipend  are  borne  by  NMDFC  as  grant.  After  the  training,  need  based micro  credit  subject  to  a  maximum  of  Rs.  50,000,  is  made  available  to each member of SHG, at an interest rate of 7% p.a.
6. (c) Maulana Azad National Academy for Skills  (MANAS): MANAS has been established on 11/11/2014, as Special Purpose  Vehicle  (SPV)  for addressing all skill development  needs of minority communities including minority  women,  to  ensure  provision  of  sustainable  livelihoods  to  them, with  emphasis  on  self-employment.  Based  on  market  demand,  the Academy provides an All India level training framework for Entrepreneurship and Skill Development Programme (E&SDP) based on PPP model, for imparting training to minority population including minority women, with concessional credit linkages.
- iv. Seekho aur Kamao (Learn & Earn): It is a placement linked skill development programme for minority  youths, being implemented since  the  year 2013-14. This scheme aims at upgrading the skills of minority youths including minority girls  in  various  modern  as  well  as  traditional  skills  which  can  earn  them suitable employment or make them suitably skilled to go for self-employment. The  scheme  ensures  placements  of  minimum  75%  trained  youths,  out  of which at least 50% placement is in organized sector.
- v. Nai Manzil: An integrated education and  livelihood initiative  for  the  minority community including  minority  women  has been launched on 08.08.2015 on pilot basis for formal education of school dropouts and Madarsa students to enhance their education and skills in various trades to enable them for gainful employment.

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