| Year End Review 2014 |
The Ministry of Minority Affairs adopts a multi-pronged strategy for development of minority communities with focus on educational empowerment; area development; economic empowerment; women empowerment; development of vulnerable minority communities and strengthening of minority institutions. The schemes have been prioritized ensuring natural flow of welfare efforts to maximize benefits. The new Government has adopted more focused approach towards educational empowerment and skill development creating enabling environment for minorities.
I. Educational Programmes (Scholarships/Fellowship/Free Coaching):
The Ministry of Minority Affairs gives highest importance to the education of minorities, particularly through scholarships at all levels. About 49% of annual plan budget of the Ministry is used on scholarship and fellowship programmes.
Intensive efforts being made for educational empowerment through Pre-matric, Post-matric, Merit-cum-means based Scholarships and Maulana Azad National Fellowship.
During the financial year 2014-15 (as on 23.12.2014), under Scholarship Schemes (Pre-matric, Post-matric and Merit-cum-means based Scholarship) for students from minority communities, over Rs.1244 crore of Rs.2033 crore have been released.
The total process of implementation of Scholarship Schemes is done online ensuring transparency and accountability with clear-cut defined roles and responsibilities of all the stakeholders.
Online Scholarship Management System (OSMS) for online implementation of Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme has been made operational during 2014-15 while it is already operational for merit-cum-Means (MCM) Based Scholarships since 2010-11.
Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) has become operational in 2014-15 for transfer of scholarships in the bank accounts of students under schemes of Post-Matric Scholarship, MCM Scholarship, Padho Pardesh the scheme for interest subsidy on loans for overseas studies, and Maulana Azad National Fellowship.
Ministry is making efforts for Direct Benefit Transfer under Pre-Matric Scholarship scheme as well. As small children do not have accounts, they will be linked with the parents account under Jan Dhan Yojana.
In addition, the Maulana Azad Education Foundation (MAEF), an autonomous body under the Ministry, awards scholarships to 35000 meritorious minority girls annually. The corpus of MAEF has been raised from Rs. 750 crore to Rs. 1250 crore during 12th Plan. Till 2014-15, the Corpus has already been raised upto Rs. 1023 Crore. MAEF also supports private educational institutions to develop educational infrastructure.
Padho Pardesh a new scheme of the Ministry for interest subsidy on educational loans to minority students for higher studies became operational through Canara Bank during 2014-15. Till 19.12.2014, Rs. 2.28Crore has been released benefitting 573 candidates.
Free Coaching and Allied Scheme of the Ministry prepares the minority students for professional courses and higher services. Since 2007-08 till date, about 50853 students have been provided coaching in reputed institutions.
Financial Support is also provided to minority candidates clearing Preliminary exams conducted by Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), Staff Selection Commission (SSC) and State Public Service Commissions (SPSCs). Twelve candidates supported by the Ministry in 2013, were selected in the Civil Services Exams.
During 2014-15 till 19.12.2014, total 444 students have been awarded financial assistance for clearing Prelims exams conducted by UPSC/SSC and State PSCs and an amount of Rs. 128.50 lakhs was released.
II.Jan-Vikas Karyakram (Multi-sectoral Development Programme or MsDP):
Jan-Vikas Karyakram (Multi-sectoral Development Programme or MsDP) is the flagship programme of the Ministry to address the development deficits by creating socio-economic infrastructure and providing basic amenities.
Under MsDP, the unit of planning is Minority Concentration Blocks (MCBs) and Minority Concentration Towns (MCTs). 710 MCBs and 66 Minority Concentration Towns (MCTs) have been identified for implementation of MsDP during 12th Plan.
During 2014 15 Out of the total allocation of Rs. 1250 crore for the year 2014-15, Rs. 677.88 crore have been released to the States/UTs so far under MsDP for various enlisted projects:
| S.No. | Name of the Project | Sanctioned Units |
| 1. | Degree College | 6 |
| 2. | School building | 60 |
| 3. | Additional class rooms | 286 |
| 4. | Hostels | 51 |
| 5. | Toilet & DW in School | 33 |
| 6. | Free Bicycle for Girls | 1807 |
| 7. | Digital Literacy under Cyber Gram | 170005 |
| 8. | ITI Building | 20 |
| 9. | Polytechnic | 1 |
| 10. | Skill Training to Minority Youth | 95824 |
| 11. | Health Centres | 118 |
| 12. | Aganwadi Centre | 72 |
| 13. | Drinking Water Facility | 152 |
Under MsDP, 10% of the annual budget has been earmarked for skill development sector. During 2014-15, skill development of 1.00 lakh minority youths has been targeted through State Governments/ UT Administrations. Ministry has already sanctioned the Skill Development training programmes for 95,824 minority youths during 2014-15.
Minority Cyber Gram Yojana has been launched under MsDP from 2014-15, to impart Digital Literacy to minorities, in all the 710 blocks and 66 Minority Concentration towns in 196 districts in the country in collaboration with Common Service Centre (CSC) e-Governance Services India Ltd. of Department of Electronics and Information Technology. Ministry has already sanctioned 244 Cyber Madarsas in the State of West Bengal. In addition to Madarsas, the Cyber Gram Programme will be taken up in other areas of minority concentration blocks/ towns and adjoining areas.
Under Jan Vikas Karyakram (MsDP), Projects are approved, sanctioned, and reviewed by the Empowered Committee through Video Conferencing. Scholarship schemes are also reviewed through Video Conferencing with the States/ UTs.
III.Seekho aur Kamao (Learn & Earn), the Skill Development Initiative for Minorities:
Ministry has launched Seekho aur Kamao (Learn & Earn) for skill development of minorities. The scheme ensures minimum 75% employment of trained minority youths and out of them 50% are in organized sector. Post placement support to trained minority youths for 1 (one) year is mandatory for project implementing agencies.
During 2013-14, Ministry has sanctioned Skill Development projects under this scheme for 20,164 minority youths in 29 States/ UTs with Rs. 17 Crore. During 2014-15, Skill Development Projects for 16,270 minority youths have already been sanctioned with an amount of Rs. 34.67 Crore.
E-monitoring under Seekho aur Kamao (Learn & Earn), the Skill Development Initiative for Minorities is being developed.
Ministry through National Minorities Development and Finance Corporation (NMDFC), a Central Public Sector Enterprise under Ministry, has signed a MoU with Maruti Suzuki India Limited (MSIL) on imparting Drivers Training to persons belonging to Minority Communities. So far 2515 candidates have been trained under this programme in 5 (five) States of Delhi, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka and U.P.
For wider expansion of the skill development programme, MANAS (Maulana Azad National Academy for Skills) has been established under National Minorities Development and Finance Corporation (NMDFC), to upgrade skills of minority youths and place them within India and overseas on 10.11.2014. MANAS has also signed MoU with National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) and Sector Skill Councils of Health, Security, Leather, Logistics and Media & Entertainment. A Regional office has been opened at Chennai recently. More regional offices are likely to be opened in Mumbai, Kolkata and Guwahati.
IV.USTTAD (Upgrading the Skills and Training in Traditional Arts/Crafts for Development):
In compliance with the announcement made in the Budget speech by Finance Minister on 10th July, 2014 and as per priority of the Government for minorities, a new scheme namely USTTAD (Upgrading the Skills and Training in Traditional Arts/Crafts for Development) has been approved by the Government in 2014-15 to conserve traditional arts/crafts and rich heritage of minorities.
The scheme will establish linkages of traditional arts/ crafts of minorities with the National and International market and generate demand. It may help the traditional artisans/ craftsmen to earn better livelihood and ensure dignity of labour.
Ministry will work out the design of e-Business portal to assist minorities who are engaged in traditional arts/ crafts to market their products.
Ministry has requested Ministry of Finance to allocate Rs. 95.00 crore for the programme for the remaining period of 12th Five Year Plan.
Besides, all these -
National Waqf Development Corporation (NAWADCO) has identified seventy seven properties so far to develop income generating projects.
Waqf Property Lease Rule, 2014 has been notified
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