The Government has identified bottlenecks responsible for the
under-utilisation of plan funds allocated for the minorities welfare under the
following two schemes namely MsDP and three Scholarship Schemes. Regarding
other 8 schemes implemented by this Ministry, no gross under utilization of
funds have been noticed.
I.
The scheme wise details of bottlenecks responsible and reasons behind under
utilization of plan funds allocated for the minority welfare are detailed here-
1. Multi-sectoral Development
Programme (MsDP):
Under
the Scheme of Multi-sectoral Development Programme (MsDP), the major reasons
behind slow utilization of funds are non-availability or delayed availability
of land, delay in submission of utilization certificates for the previous
releases, inordinate delay in transfer of funds by the State to the
district/implementing agency, non release of state’s share, delay in
identification of implementing agency etc. Many of the MsDP projects being
large infrastructural projects, like ITI, Polytechnic, Colleges, and Degree
colleges etc. have long gestation period hence delay in implementation of the
schemes.
2.
Scholarship Schemes:
As
far as the three Scholarship Schemes viz Pre-matric Scholarship Scheme,
Post-matric Scholarship Scheme and Merit-cum-Means based Scholarship Scheme are
concerned this Ministry faced bottlenecks in transfer of Scholarships amount in
the bank accounts of students due to the following reasons:-
i.
Beneficiary
mismatch.
ii.
IFSC
Code Mismatch.
iii.
Inactive
Account.
iv.
Incorrect
Account number fed by the students etc.
II.
Schemes for which there is no significant under utilization of funds:
However, it is also informed that there is no under
utilization of funds under the following schemes of this Ministry:
i.
Maulana
Azad National Fellowship
ii.
Free
Coaching and Allied Scheme, Support to minority Candidate clearing Prelims
conducted by UPSC/SSC, State Public Service commission (PSC) etc.
iii.
Padho
Pardesh-Interest Subsidy on Educational Loans for overseas studies,
iv.
Seekho
aur Kamao (Learn & Earn)
v.
Nai
Roshni (Leadership Development of Minority Women)
vi.
“USTTAD
(Upgrading the Skills and Training in Traditional Arts/Crafts for Development)”
vii.
Loan
Schemes of National Minorities Development and Finance Corporation (NMDFC), and
viii.
Maulana
Azad National Academy for Skills (MANAS).
(c) Steps
taken by this Ministry to expedite the utilization of the plan funds for the
minority welfare:
i. To expedite the
utilization of funds under various schemes being implemented by this Ministry, regular
reviews are being held with the State Governments involved in implementation of
these schemes.
ii. National and Regional level
conferences are being held with the officials of States/UTs to review the
progress of MsDP.
iii. Further, the
officials of this Ministry visit the States and review the implementation of
the schemes.
iv. In addition, as a
follow up action, regular review meetings with States/UTs are held through
Video conferencing.
v. States/UTs are also
reminded and sensitized through communications at higher level officials of this
Ministry for further utilization of funds.
vi. In order to further
strengthen the implementation mechanism under the scheme “Nai Roshni” an Online
Application and Management System has been developed.
vii. Similarly, a
Management Information System (MIS) is being developed for e-monitoring
and post placement tracking under the scheme “Seekho aur Kamao”.
This Ministry is
aware of the condition of the minority women in the country and the problems
generally encountered by them. In order to improve the socio-economic and educational
condition of minority communities including minority women, this Ministry implements
the following 8 schemes across the country;
i. Pre-Matric
Scholarship Scheme,
ii. Post-Matric
Scholarship Scheme
iii.
Merit-cum-Means based Scholarship Scheme
iv.
Maulana Azad National Fellowship
v.
Free
Coaching and Allied Scheme
vi.
Support
to minority Candidates clearing Prelims conducted by UPSC/SSC, State Public Service
Commission (PSC) etc.
vii.
Padho
Pradesh-Interest Subsidy on Educational Loans for overseas studies
Minimum 30% Scholarship/Fellowships are earmarked
for minority girls under all these schemes except the Scheme at S.No. vi above
namely Support
to minority Candidates clearing Prelims exam conducted by UPSC/SSC, State
Public Service Commission (PSC) etc.
viii.
Maulana
Azad Scholarship for Meritorious Girls Students: This scheme is implemented by
Maulana Azad Education Foundation. Under this scheme, financial assistance is
provided to the minority girl students @Rs. 6000/- per annum and maximum of Rs.
12000-/ for two years i.e. 11th and 12th classes.
This
Ministry is also implementing the following schemes for improving the
conditions of minority women in the country:
i.
Nai
Roshni:
the scheme for Leadership Development of Minority Women from 2012-13. The
scheme is being implemented with the objective to empower and instill confidence
among minority women by providing knowledge, tools and techniques for interacting
with Government system, Banks and other institutions at all levels. In the last
three years, more than 1.67 lakh women have been trained on various issues like
participation in decision making, educational programmes, health and hygiene,
legal rights, government mechanisms etc.
ii.
Multi-sectoral
Development Programme: Under this scheme 27595 Anganwadi centres for women
were set up during the 11th Five Year Plan and till September 2013,
5269 Anganwadi Centres have been set up in the 12th Five Year Plan
for the development of the women.
iii.
National
Minorities Development and Finance Corporation (NMDFC):
(a) NMDFC is a
Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) under administrative control of this
Ministry, which provides concessional loans for self-employment and income
generating activities to eligible minorities. The loans are extended to
individuals or Self-Help Groups mostly dominated by minority women through
State Channelizing Agencies (SCAs) nominated by the concerned State
Governments/UT administrations.
(b) Mahila Samridhi
Yojana: A
unique Scheme linking Micro credit with the training to the women members to be
formed in the Self Help Groups (SHGs) in women-friendly trades such as
tailoring, cutting and embroidery etc. has been launched by NMDFC. The Scheme
is being implemented through the State Channelising Agencies of NMDFC as well
as NGOs. The maximum duration of the training is of six months with maximum
training expenses of Rs. 1500 per month per trainee. During the training a
stipend of Rs. 1000 is also paid to the trainees. The training cost and stipend
are borne by NMDFC as grant. After the training, need based micro credit
subject to a maximum of Rs. 50,000, is made available to each member of SHG, at
an interest rate of 7% p.a.
(c) Maulana
Azad National Academy for Skills (MANAS): MANAS has been
established on 11/11/2014, as Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) for addressing all
skill development needs of minority communities including minority women, to
ensure provision of sustainable livelihoods to them, with emphasis on
self-employment. Based
on market demand, the Academy provides an All India level training framework
for Entrepreneurship and Skill Development Programme (E&SDP) based on PPP
model, for imparting training to minority population including minority women,
with concessional credit linkages.
iv.
Seekho
aur Kamao (Learn & Earn): It is a placement linked skill
development programme for minority youths, being implemented since the year
2013-14. This
scheme aims at upgrading the skills of minority youths including minority girls
in various modern as well as traditional skills which can earn them suitable
employment or make them suitably skilled to go for self-employment. The scheme
ensures placements of minimum 75% trained youths, out of which at
least 50% placement is in organized sector.
v.
Nai
Manzil:
An integrated education and livelihood initiative for the minority community
including minority women has been launched on 08.08.2015 on pilot basis for
formal education of school dropouts and Madarsa students to enhance their
education and skills in various trades to enable them for gainful employment.
This
Information was given by Shri Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, the Minister of State in the
Ministry of Minority Affairs, in Lok Sabha today.
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