The recently constituted National Monitoring
Committee for Minorities (NMCM) held its
first meeting here today.Constituted on 12th
February,2014 under the chairmanship of
Union Minister of Minority Affairs, NMCM
includes seventy two experts in minority
related issues.As the Ministry has already entered in
to its 9th year of establishment, need for a Monitoring Committee was being felt for long.The National Monitoring Committee is to assess
the achievements and review its planning process, programmes,
strategies and implementation process over a period of time.
Speaking on the occasion Shri
K. Rahman Khan said that diversity is country’s
strength and dis-diversity must be respected and
protective.
The Ministry of Minority Affairs is
implementing several programmes and schemes to bridge
the development deficit in minority concentration areas as raised in Sachar Committee recommendations.
Multi-sectoral Development
Programme (MsDP) was launched in 2008-09 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). 710 MCBs and 66 Minority Concentration Towns (MCTs) have been identified
for implementation of MsDP during 12th
Plan.
Ø
11th Five Year Plan:
·
Funds approved :
Rs. 3733.90 Crore
·
Funds released : Rs. 2935.93 Crore
Ø 12th
Five Year Plan (as on date):
·
Funds approved :
Rs. 2286.25 Crore
·
Funds released : Rs. 1385.52 Crore
The Ministry provides variousScholarship
Schemestoencourage education among
children of notified minority communities, sustain their effort to complete
school education, to increase their rate of attainment in higher education and
enhance their employability.Altogether, in
case of Pre-Matric, Post –Matric
and Merit-cum Means Scholarship schemes, since 11th Plan so far,
2.96 Crore Scholarships have been awarded and Rs.
5412.49 Crore have been released.
Under Pre-matric
Scholarship Scheme (introduced 2008-09), the coverage has increased 13 times
while under Post-matric Scholarship (introduced
2007-08), this increase is more than 33 times.
The coverage of beneficiaries under Merit-cum-Means based Scholarship
has increased 4 times since its introduction in 2007-08.
“Padho Pardes” is the new scheme of the Ministry launched
recently, wherein the Ministry will provide interest subsidy to minority
students who avail loans from Banks for overseas studies.
To improve the management of Wakf properties
and streamline the functioning of State Waqf Boards, the Waqf (Amendment) Act 2013 has been recently enacted. Among
other provisions, the Amendment Act strengthens Central Waqf
Council, ensures survey and recording of Waqf
records, checks encroachments on Waqf properties and
enhances lease period from the
present 3 years to 30 years for commercial activities, education and health
purposes.
A new National Waqf Development Corporation Limited (NAWADCO) has been set
up in January, 2014 as an ambitious initiative to finance the development of Waqf properties for public purposes throughout the country. Union
Cabinet has approved a new stand-alone legislation namely “Waqf
Properties (Eviction of Unauthorized Occupants) Bill, 2013” for eviction of
unauthorized occupants of Wakf properties. Ministry has already introduced the Bill in RajyaSabha. It will prevent alienations and encroachments
on Wakf properties.
The scheme for “Computerization of records of State Waqf
Boards” is in progress since 2009, and a web-enabled
portal software called Waqf Management System of
India (WAMSI) is in place to develop
centralized database of Waqf Properties.
Other Important
Achievements of the Ministry include-
The National
Minorities Development and Finance Corporation (NMDFC) has
disbursed concessional loans to 6.44 lakh deprived
minority beneficiaries to the tune of Rs. 1667.41 Crore
during 11th Plan
Period and 12th Plan Period so far.
A new scheme “SeekhoaurKamao
(Learn & Earn)” launched for skill development of minoritiesduring
2013-14 guaranteeing employmentto minimum 75% of
trained minority youths .
For women empowerment, a Leadership
Development Programme for Minority Women started during
2012-13 and supported training of 36950 women in 12 States with an amount of
Rs.10.45 Crore.
During 2013-14, Ministry aims to train 40,000 women with an amount of
Rs. 15.00 Crore.
A unique scheme with the name “Jiyo Parsi” started during
2013-14 for containing population decline of Parsis
in India.
The
Union Cabinet has approved constitution of Equal Opportunity Commission (EOC)
on 20.02.2014. Now, the Bill will be introduced in Parliament.
A
Pilot Project “Minority Cyber Gram” launched for Digital literacy of Minorities
in collaboration with Digital Empowerment Foundation in PPP Mode at village Chandauli, District Alwar, Rajasthan.Total 2,600 villagers have been targeted under
this pilot project.
A
dedicated Toll Free Helpline “Khidmat” – 1800112001 launched, to assist the
members of minority communities and provide information on schemes/programmes of the Ministry. The helpline works on all
working days between 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
To improve
public interface, generate awareness and develop dialogue with target
communities, Ministry
has launched a quarterly tri-lingual (Hindi, English and Urdu)
magazine “Minority Today” on 29th January, 2014
******
AT