Lok Sabha Question No. 3717 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-08-12
Subject: Benefits to Minority Persons
Ministry: MINORITY AFFAIRS
Asked by: BIDYUT BARAN MAHATO, NARANBHAI KACHHADIA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINORITY AFFAIRS LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3717 TO BE ANSWERED ON 12.08.2015

## Benefits to Minority Persons

## 3717.   SHRI BIDYUT BARAN MAHATO SHRI NARANBHAI KACHHADIYA:

Will the Minister of MINORITY AFFAIRS be pleased to state :

- (a) whether  the  Council  for  Social  Development  has  submitted  its  report  regarding  the  benefits given to persons belonging to minority communities;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether Multi-Sectoral Development Programme  for  minorities  launched by the  Government has proved unsuccessful as the benefits of this programme have reached to a small percentage of minority population in targeted areas;
- (d) if so, the details thereof along with the reasons therefor; and
- (e) the  concrete  measures taken by the  Government to  improve the condition of  minorities  in the country?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) & (b) No report from Council  for Social Development has been submitted to the Ministry. However,  a  report  namely  'India  Social  Development  Report  2012-  Minorities  at  the Margins'  has  been  published  by  Council  for  Social  Development  in  the  year  2013.  The report contains chapters on the socio-economic conditions of the minorities, particularly the Muslims.
- (c) &  (d)  Multi-sectoral  Development  Programme  (MsDP)  MsDP  was  launched  in  2008  to address the development deficits of backward minority concentration areas  identified as 90 Minority Concentration Districts (MCDs) as a follow up to Sachar Committee recommendations.  So  far,  projects  with  central  share  of  Rs.  7220.47  crore  have  been approved under MsDP to create socio-economic  infrastructure and provide basic amenities in the  identified MCDs. The Guidelines for MsDP provide that priority should be given to projects that focus on villages/blocks/localities, having substantial minority population. Most of  the  projects  taken  under  MsDP  are  for  creation  of  community  assets  and  the  area  of development being  minority concentrated  maximum benefit of  the asset  goes  to  minority community. Further, to ensure the  intended benefits are passed on to the targeted  minority population, the Ministry has restructured MsDP for sharper focus on minority concentration areas  by  making  Minority  Concentration  Blocks/Towns  (MCBs/MCTs)  and  Cluster  of Villages as unit of planning and implementation.
- (e) Apart from MsDP, the Ministry is implementing a number of other  programmes/schemes of for the welfare of minorities. These are given below:
- i. Schemes  for  educational  empowerment  Ministry  implements  Pre-matric,  Postmatric,  Merit-cum-Means  based  scholarships  and  Maulana  Azad  National  Fellowship. Under these schemes, 30% seats are earmarked  for girl students. In addition, Maulana Azad  Education  Foundation  implements  a  scheme  exclusively  for  scholarship  to  girls belonging  to  minority  communities.  Assistance  for  free  coaching  is  also  provided  to

students for  competitive  examinations. A  new  scheme  'Padho  Pardesh' has  been launched  for  Interest  subsidy  on  educational  loans  for  minority  students  for  their overseas studies. Another Scheme 'Nai Udaan' has also been started for giving financial support to  minority candidates clearing preliminary exams conducted by Union Public Service  Commission  (UPSC),  Staff  Selection  Commission  (SSC)  and  State  Public Service Commissions (SPSCs). Further, to strengthen educational infrastructure, construction  of  schools,  additional  classrooms,  etc.  is  taken  up  under  Multi-sectoral Development  Programme.  A new  scheme namely  'Nai Manzil' -an integrated educational  and  livelihood  initiative  for  Minority  Communities has  also  been  launched on  08.08.2015  on  pilot  basis  for  formal  education  of  school  dropouts  and  Madarsa students to enhance their education and skill for gainful employment.

- ii. Scheme for economic empowerment -  National  Minorities  Development and Finance Corporation  (NMDFC)  provides  concessional  loans  to  minorities.  Ministry  has  also launched 'Seekho aur Kamao (Learn & Earn)'  for placement  linked skill development of minorities in the year 2013-14. The scheme  envisages a minimum  of  75% employment  of  trained  minority  youth  and  out  of  them  50%  in  organized  sector. Maulana Azad  National Academy  for  Skill (MANAS)  has  been  established  on 11.11.2014 as a  special purpose  vehicle  for addressing all  skill development  needs  of minority  community,  to  ensure  provision  of  sustainable livelihood  to them, with emphases  on  self  employment.  A  new  Scheme  'Upgradation  of  Skills  &  Training  in Traditional  Arts/  Crafts  for  Development  (USTTAD)'  has  also  been launched  for implementation. The scheme aims at capacity building of minority artists and craftsmen including lesser known artists/ craftsmen.
- iii. Scheme  for  Women  empowerment  Ministry  started  'Nai  Roshni',  an  exclusive Leadership Development Programme for Minority Women during 2012-13. The scheme aims to empower  and instill confidence among minority women  by providing knowledge,  tools and  techniques  for  interacting  with  Government systems,  Banks and other institutions.
- iv. Development of vulnerable  minority community  Ministry  has  launched a  scheme with the name 'Jiyo Parsi' during 2013-14 for containing population decline of Parsis in India. The scheme provides for financial assistance to Parsi married couples for medical treatment  under  standard  medical  protocols  and  also  focuses  on  advocacy/  outreach programmes to generate awareness among Parsi population for lineage enhancement.
- v. Prime  Minister's  New  15  Point  Programme  The  Ministry  is  also  implementing Prime  Minister's  New  15  Point  Programme for welfare of minorities. It is an overarching programme covering various schemes/ initiatives of different Ministries/Departments by either earmarking 15%  of targets/ outlays  for  minorities or specific  monitoring  of  flow  of  benefits/funds  to  minorities  or  areas  with  substantial minority population.

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