A High Level Committee, constituted under the Chairmanship of Justice (Retired) Rajinder Sachar to gather data/information for preparation of a comprehensive report on the social, economic and educational status of the Muslim community of India, in its report has indicated that the Muslim community lags behind the mainstream in social, economic and educational sectors.

The recommendations of the Committee were examined by the Government and the following focus areas were identified for their implementation for the welfare of all the six minority communities:

(i)                  Education (15 decisions);

(ii)                Skill Development of  Minorities (2 decisions);

(iii)               Access to credit (6 decisions);

(iv)              Special development initiatives (2 decisions such as Multi-sectoral Development Programme and Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission);

(v)                Measures for affirmative action (4 decisions such as Setting up of National Data Bank and Assessment & Monitoring Authority, etc);

(vi)              Protection and Management of  Waqf  Properties (4 decisions); and

(vii)             Miscellaneous (10 decisions such as Prevention of Communal Violence, Delimitation Act, Sensitization, Multi-Media campaign etc.). 

Most of the decisions have already been implemented. The follow up action on remaining decisions is of on-going nature and are implemented by the Ministry of Minority Affairs as well as the other Ministries/Departments of the Government of India. Many new schemes are added every year for the welfare of minorities. While the Ministry of Minority Affairs implements various schemes, which are exclusively meant for minorities (Budget provision for the year 2015-16 being Rs. 3,738.11 crore), others implement their schemes from their own budget by either earmarking funds for minorities or for the minority concentration areas. Progress of all the schemes are monitored on regular basis by the Ministry of Minority Affairs.

Implementation of these schemes, oriented towards welfare of minorities, is definitely going to improve the socio-economic conditions of the minorities. However, the overall effect of the steps taken by the Government for improving the conditions of minorities would be known once the data of census 2011 becomes available.

This information was given  by Shri Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, the Minister of State for Minority Affairs in response to a written question in Rajya  Sabha  today.

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