Lok Sabha Question No. 3782 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-08-12
Subject: Representation of Minority Communities
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: ANIRUDHAN SAMPATH

**GOVERNMENT OF INDIA**

**MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT**

**DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION**

**LOK SABHA**

**UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3782**

**TO BE ANSWERED ON 12.8.2015**

**Representation of Minority Communities**

3782. DR. A. SAMPATH:

Will the Minister of HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has any proper mechanism to ensure adequate representation of minority communities in educational institutions;

(b) if so, the details thereof; and

(c) if not, the corrective measures being taken by the Government in this regard?

## 1 ANSWER

MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT

(SMT. SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)

**(a) to (c) :** To ensure adequate representation of minority communities in educational institutions, the Government has been implementing various minority education schemes. A total of 15% of the outlay under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan is targeted for the Minority Concentration Districts (MCD)/Areas to achieve the goal of universalisation of elementary education, to meet infrastructure gaps for schools, classrooms, teachers and providing access by opening new schools. Other initiatives which also benefit minorities include the Scheme for Providing Quality Education in Madarsas (SPQEM), the Scheme of Infrastructure Development in Minority Institutions (IDMI), the Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya Scheme (JNV), setting up of Girls Hostels, Model Schools under the Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA), the Mid-Day-Meal Scheme, Jan Shikshan Sansthan (JSS), establishment of the Model Degree Colleges, Women Hostels and Polytechnics in the Minority Concentration Districts. Setting up of Block Institutes of Teacher Education, Appointment of Language Teachers, providing modern education to Madarasas under National Institute of Open Schooling and the easing of norms for affiliation of Minority Educational Institutions, are some of the important initiatives undertaken by the Government.

The University Grants Commission(UGC) has been implementing the following schemes  to ensure adequate representation of Minority communities in higher educational institutions:-

(1)    Maulana Azad National Fellowship for Minority students to pursue higher studies such as regular and full-time M.Phil/Ph.D degrees in Science, Humanities, Social Science and Engineering & Technology.

(2)  Remedial Coaching for SC/ST/OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) and Minority Community Students.

(3)   Coaching for NET/SET for SC/ST/OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) and Minority Community Students.

(4)    Coaching Classes for Entry into Govt. service for SC/ST/OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) and Minority Community Students.

(5)   Coaching Classes for Residential Academies for Minorities/SC/ST and Women.

The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) gives concession in processing fees and money deposit for setting up New 'Technical Institution’ under the category of minority Institutions to encourage minorities to establish new Educational Institutions which may provide easy access to the minority communities in Technical Education institutions in the country.

Realizing the need for facilitating an equitable share for minority communities in education, the National Council for Educational Research and Training(NCERT) is working towards creating awareness regarding the policy measures in this area and imparting knowledge about provisions available in the area of minority education to all stakeholders working in the field of education. This has been shared with States/UTs. The NCERT has developed a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for students, teachers and parents for providing requisite information to promote the education of students belonging to minorities.

The focus on minority education during the current year 2015-16 is on:-

- Orientation programme for teachers educators from District Institute of Education and Training (DIET) and State Council of Education Research and Training (SCERT) on gender issues in education with focus on educational development of girls belonging to Minority Communities.
- Awareness of Minority Students for Vocational Courses in schools.
- Capacity building of the faculty of DIETs located in the minority dominated areas in the States of Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Jammu & Kashmir in teaching of Social Science at Upper Primary level.
- A study of educational status and issues of Buddhists/Neo-Buddhists students at elementary level.

In formulating/developing the Government’s New Education Policy(NEP), the NCERT  is focusing on children belonging to SC, ST and Minorities on the theme ‘Enabling Inclusive Education: Education of Girls, SCs, STs, Minorities and children with special needs in the country’.

The Ministry of Minority Affairs(MoMA) implements three Scholarship and one Fellowship Schemes i.e. Pre-matric, Post-matric, Merit-cum-Means based Scholarship and Maulana Azad National Fellowship (MANF).

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