Alpshankhyak Vikas Nidhi
State: Uttarakhand
Ministry: null
Department: Minority Welfare, Uttarakhand
Category: Social welfare & Empowerment, Skills & Employment
Beneficiary Type: University / Institution

The scheme establishes a ₹4 crore fund to support marginalized minorities in Uttarakhand, targeting gaps in existing central/state welfare programs through district-level initiatives.

Benefits:
> **1. Financial Support for Community Development**

**Fund Corpus:**

- Initial allocation of ₹4,00,00,000/- (revised periodically).

- Annual replenishment based on project demand and state budget provisions.

**Project-Specific Grants:**

- Education: Up to ₹10,00,000/- per institution for infrastructure (e.g., classrooms, libraries).
- Livelihoods: ₹5,00,000/- max for vocational training centers (e.g., sewing, computer courses).
- Healthcare: ₹3,00,000/- for mobile clinics or health camps in minority-concentrated districts.

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> **2. Targeted Group Coverage**

**Eligible Communities:**

- Religious Minorities: Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Buddhists, Jains (constituting ~15.4% of UP’s population per 2001 census).
- Linguistic Minorities: Urdu, Bengali, and Punjabi speakers.

**Priority Districts:**
Ghaziabad, Saharanpur, and other regions with &gt;25% minority population.
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> **3. Empowerment Through Education**

**Scholarships:**
Pre-Matric: ₹1,000/month for school students (grades 1–8).
Post-Matric: ₹5,000/year for higher education (grades 9–12).
**Skill Development:**
Subsidized courses in partnership with ITIs and NSDC (e.g., ₹2,000 stipend per trainee).
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> **4. Infrastructure and Welfare Initiatives**

**Community Infrastructure:**
Grants for:

- Construction of community halls (₹20,00,000/- max).
- Renovation of religious institutions (₹5,00,000/-, excluding places of worship).

**Basic Amenities:**
Funding for water supply, sanitation, and electricity in minority-dominated slums.
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> **5. Employment and Entrepreneurship**

**Subsidized Loans:**
Interest subsidy of 5% for small businesses via partner banks (e.g., ₹2,00,000/- loan at 7% instead of 12%).
**Self-Help Groups (SHGs):**
Seed money of ₹50,000 per SHG for handicrafts, agro-based businesses.
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> **6. Healthcare Access**

**Mobile Health Units:**
Free check-ups and medicines in remote areas (₹5 ,00,000/unit annually).
**Awareness Camps:**
Subsidized camps for maternal health, TB, and diabetes (₹1,00,000/camp).
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> **7. Transparency and Accountability**

**Digital Tracking:**
Real-time project updates on UP Social Welfare Dashboard.
**Third-Party Audits:**
Mandatory CA-certified utilization reports for funds &gt;₹5,00,000/-.
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> **8. Special Provisions for Women**

**Women-Centric Schemes:**
50% reservation in scholarships/vocational training.
₹25,000 grants for home-based enterprises (e.g., embroidery, food processing).
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> **9. Supplement to Central Schemes**

**Gap Funding:**
Covers shortfalls in central schemes like MSDP (Multi-Sectoral Development Programme).
**Example:** Additional ₹2,00,000/- for a school building if MSDP allocates ₹8,00,000/- against a ₹10,00,000/- estimate.
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> **10. Long-Term Impact**

**Social Inclusion:**
Bridges disparities in literacy (e.g., Urdu-speaking women’s literacy rate improved by 12% in pilot districts).
Economic Upliftment:
1,200+ minority-owned startups supported since 2015.
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Eligibility:
- The project must benefit notified religious/linguistic minority communities in Uttarakhand.
- The project must address critical gaps in education, livelihoods, or social welfare.
_*Priority given to districts with high minority populations (e.g., Ghaziabad, Saharanpur)._
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Application Process:
[Offline]
Step 1: The eligible institutions should approach the Minority Welfare Officer and request the prescribed format of the development proposal from the designated staff.
Step 2: In the format, fill in all the mandatory details, and attach copies of all the required documents. 
Step 3: Two hard copies of the proposal, and a soft copy (PDF) are required to be submitted via email to the Minority Welfare Officer. Request a receipt or acknowledgement.
Step 4: The Minority Welfare Officers forward the eligible proposals to the Directorate of Minority Welfare, Dehradun. The Directorate compiles and forwards the proposals to the State Government.
Step 5: A State Committee chaired by the Secretary of the Minority Welfare Department approves proposals. The final approval is granted by the Chief Secretary of Uttarakhand.

Documents Required:
Project Proposal: Detailed plan with objectives, budget, and implementation timeline.
Institution’s Registration Certificate
Community Certification: Proof of Minority Status (e.g., religious/linguistic affiliation).
Financial Contribution Proof (25% for infrastructure cases)
Details of Teachers (for honorarium requests)
Bank Details of the Institution.