YEAR–END REVIEW

 

Ministry of Minority Affairs is continuously striving not only to safeguard the interests of the Minorities but also taking such steps and making such policies that will specially improve the lot of those sections of Minorities which have lagged behind in development and progress. In consonance with the Government’s basic mantra of ‘Inclusive Growth’, during the calendar year 2009, too, the Ministry of Minority Affairs took a number of steps and policy measures for the welfare of minorities, specially the less privileged among them. Some of the measures are historic, as they have been conceived and implemented for the first time:

 

MAULANA ABUL KALAM AZAD NATIONAL FELLOWSHIP FOR STUDENTS FROM MINORITY COMMUNITIES:

              In the current financial year 2009-10, a new scholarship scheme viz. Maulana Abul Kalam Azad National Fellowship for Students from Minority Communities has been launched. The objective of the Scheme is to provide integrated five year fellowships in the form of financial assistance to students from minority communities, as notified by the Central Government to pursue higher studies such as M. Phil and Ph.D. The scheme will cover all Universities/Institutions recognized by the University Grants Commission (UGC) under section 2(f) and section 3 of the UGC Act and will be implemented by the Ministry of Minority Affairs (MoMA) through UGC for students belonging to the minority communities. The fellowship under National Fellowship will be on the pattern of UGC Fellowships awarded to research students pursuing regular and full time M. Phil and Ph.D courses.  Salient features of this scheme are:-

 

       This fellowship will be implemented by University Grants Commission.

       The number of fellowship each year will be 756.

       30% of the fellowship shall be earmarked for the women candidates.

       Reservation for differently-abled students shall be as per the UGC norms.

       The fellowship will operate on roster basis viz.  Arts, Commerce, Science & Engineering.

       Prior clearance of NET/SLET will not be pre-requisite for award of MoMA fellowship.

       Income ceiling of the parents/guardian is Rs. 2.5 lakh p.a.  Within the prescribed annual income inter-se merit will apply.

       The average fellowship per JRF is Rs. 1,57,666 p.a.

 

Budget provision of Rs. 15crore has been made for the current financial year.

 

SCHEME OF THE COMPUTERIZATION OF THE RECORDS OF THE STATE WAKF BOARDS:

The broad objectives of the Scheme for Computerization of Records of State Wakf Boards are:

·         Ensuring proper survey and cross checking of Wakf data from various computer data bases maintained at the state level, such as by Revenue Departments etc.

·         Improving office efficiency and preparation of timely reports on various administrative matters.

·         Creation of a centralized and web-enabled data base for use by various stake holders.

·         Properties Registration Management of Wakf Boards.

·         Muttawalli Returns Management system.

·         Leasing of Properties Management system.

·         Litigations Tracking Management system.

·         Documents Archiving & Retrieval Management system.

 

The scheme of computerization is uniformly to be applicable across all the 29 State Waqf Boards and any other Wakf Board like J&K, making a special request for funding subject to availability of funds. The Scheme is to be implemented during the Plan period 2009-10 to 2011-12 at a total cost of Rs. 22.84 crore. The computerization would introduce implementation of a web based centralized application module for Wakf Management. The scheme will be implemented by National Informatics Centre (NIC) on turnkey basis. Funds will be released to NIC or their nominee and to the State Wakf Boards directly for effective implementation. Utilisation Certificates will be routed through State Governments by the Wakf Boards concerned after due expenditure.   

 

The need for such a scheme has arisen because although Wakf properties are spread out all over the country but even the basic survey of wakf properties has not been done in most States. There is hardly any development of waqf properties and a very substantial income that the waqf properties could have generated for the welfare schemes of the community are lost because of non-development and large scale encroachment of wakf properties. Therefore, to streamline record keeping, introduce transparency, and to computerize the various functions/processes of the Wakf Boards and to develop a single web based centralized application, Joint Parliamentary Committee on Wakf, in its Ninth Report, recommended computerization of the records of the State Wakf Boards and Central financial assistance to the these Boards. 

 

SCHEME FOR LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT OF MINORITY WOMEN

 The Scheme for Leadership Development of Minority Women has been transferred from Ministry of Women and Child Development to Ministry of Minority Affairs.  The Sachar Committee Report has highlighted the fact that India’s largest minority group, the Muslims numbering 13.83 crore have been left out of the development trajectory.  Within this group, Muslim women are doubly disadvantaged.  To ensure that the benefits of growth reach these deprived women, it is proposed to implement the scheme as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme in pilot mode.  Through this scheme, such women would be provided with support, leadership training and skill development so that they can move out of the confines of their homes and community and begin to assume a leadership role in accessing services, skills and opportunities.  

 

              The scheme will be implemented throughout the country with special focus on districts, blocks and towns/cities having a substantial minority population.  Rs. 8 crore is the allocation for the year 2009-10.

 

PRIME MINISTER’S NEW 15 POINT PROGRAMME

 

1.    Three new schemes have been included in the Prime Minister’s New 15 Point Programme viz., National Rural Drinking Water Prgoramme (NRDWP) Integrated Development Scheme for Small  and Medium Towns (IDSSMT) “Urban Infrastructure and Governance (UIG).

2.    Members of Parliament and Members of Legislative Assembly have been included in the State and District Level Committees constituted for implementation of the Prime Minister’s New 15 Point Programme.

3.    388386 BPL families belonging to the minority communities have been assisted under Indira Awas Yojana.

4.    56747 Swarojgaris belonging to the minority communities have been assisted under the Swaranjayanti Gram Swarojgar Yojana.

5.    Rs.89694 crore have been provided under the priority sector lending to minorities.

 

MULTI-SECTORAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME FOR THE WELFARE OF MINORITIES I N MINORITY CONCENTRATION DISTRICTS:

 

A Multi-Sectoral Development Programme has been launched in ninety identified Minority Concentration Districts which are lagging behind in terms of critical socio-economic and basic amenities parameters and require focused attention and specific programme intervention.  The programme aims at improving the quality of life of the people and reducing imbalances in line with the priority attached to inclusive growth.  Identified ‘development deficits’  in education, sanitation, pucca housing, drinking water, electricity supply etc. and absolutely critical infrastructure linkages like basic health infrastructure, ICDS centres, skill development and marketing facilities would be addressed through this programme.  The focus of this programme will be on rural and semi-rural  areas of the identified 90 Minority Concentrated Districts.

 

District plan of 76 Minority Concentrated Districts out of 90  Minority Concentration Districts (MCDs) in Assam, Bihar, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Orissa, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Haryana, Jammu & Kashmir, Karnataka, Kerala, Mizoram and Uttrakhand have been considered and approved.  Total number of units approved for different sectors under MSDP Programme is as under:

 

 

 PRE-MATRIC SCHOLARSHIS

 

              During the financial year 2009-10, the physical target in respect of Pre-matric scholarship scheme as approved by the Cabinet is 5 lakh.  However, the tentative/proposed physical target as per the Planning Commission set for the current financial year is 22 lakh.  Financial budget provision  target is Rs. 200 crore.  As against this target the physical as well as financial achievements as on 15^th December, 2009 is  12.19 lakh and Rs. 128.96 crore respectively.  Further,  2.9 lakh scholarships for  Rs. 44.03 crore is under process. 

 

POST MATRIC SCHOLARSHIP

              Under the Post-matric scholarship scheme to the students belonging to minority communities, the physical target for the current financial year 2009-10 as per the Cabinet Note is 2.50 lakh.  The tentative/proposed physical target as per the Planning Commission is 7 lakh with financial target of 150 cores. As on 15^th December, 2009, the total number of Post-matric Scholarships sanctioned is 2.64 lakh., out of which 1.49 lakh scholarship i.e . 56.55% is for women candidates.  The total financial achievement as on 15.12.2009 is Rs. 99.43 crore.  Further, 0.65  lakh scholarships with financial proposal of Rs. 32.02 crore is under process.

 

MERIT-CUM-MEANS SCHOLARSHIP SCHEME

The merit-cum-means scholarship scheme is a centrally sponsored scheme launched in 2007. It is being implemented through State Governments/Union Territory Administrations. Scholarships are available for pursuing professional and technical courses, at under-graduate and post-graduate levels, in institutions recognized by the appropriate authority. Under the scheme 20,000 scholarships are distributed every year, in addition to renewal of scholarships. 30% of these scholarships are earmarked for girl students, which may be utilized by male students, if an adequate number of eligible girl students are not available.     

        

              During the year 2009-10, and up to 10.12.2009, a total number of  30,447 scholarships have been distributed  of which 32.50% went to girl students.  An amount of Rs.81.43 crore have been released so far for this purpose against a target of Rs. 100 crore.

 

MAULANA AZAD EDUCATION FOUNDATION

              The Maulana Azad Education Foundation (MAEF) was established in 1989 as a voluntary, non-political, non-profit making society registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860.  The main objectives of MAEF are to formulate and implement educational schemes and plans for the benefit of the educationally backward minorities in particular and weaker sections in general, and to facilitate establishment of residential schools, especially for girls, in order to provide modern education to them.       

   

The Foundation is implementing its schemes out of the interest earned on its Corpus Fund, which is its only source of income. The Corpus Fund has been provided to the Foundation as part of plan assistance. The Corpus fund, which stood at Rs.100 crore in the year 2006-07 now stands at Rs. 425.00 crore. During the year 2009-10 and upto 30.11.2009, the MAEF has sanctioned Grants-in-aid to 77 NGOs amounting to Rs. 10.45 Crores, under its grants-in-aid scheme. A total number of 15000 scholarship under Maulana Azad scholarship for meritorious girls students will be distributed this year for which action is  under progress. PROGRESS IN THE AMENDMENT OF THE WAKF ACT, 1995       

   

The Joint Parliamentary Committee on Wakf, in its Third Report, recommended comprehensive amendments to the Wakf Act, 1995 to make it more effective.  The proposed amendments have been duly considered in consultation with the concerned Ministries and the State Governments.  A draft cabinet Note alongwith the draft amendments, stands referred to the Ministry of Law/Legislative Department for their views/vetting since August, 2009.

 

MONITORING/EVALUATION

A Memorandum of Understanding has been signed between MoMA and National Productivity Council, an autonomous organization under Government of India, on 4^{th th} December, 2009 under the Scheme of Research Studies, Monitoring and Evaluation of Development Schemes including Publicity. As per the MoU, NPC is to carry out the appointment, training and placements of National Level Monitors and special monitors with a view to monitor and evaluate the various schemes which are implemented by MoMA as well as the organizations under its aegis.

          

    Under the Scheme, 150 National Level Monitors will be appointed by National Productivity Council, 90 National Level Monitors/special monitors will cover the identified 90 Minority Concentrated Districts (MCSs) while the balance 60 will be deployed in other districts in the country.

 

NATIONAL MINORITIES DEVELOPMENT AND FINANCE CORPORTATION

 

NMDFC is a Central Public Sector Enterprises(CPSE)  working under the Ministry of Minority Affairs  with the main objective to promote economic development of the poorer section of Minorities.

NMDFC was incorporated on the 30th September, 1994 under Section 25 of the Companies Act 1956 with an initial Authorized Share Capital of Rs. 500.00 crore. The Authorized Share Capital of NMDFC has been enhanced from Rs. 500.00 crore to Rs. 1000.00 crore over a period of 5 years as detailed below: 

 

As on 30.11.2009, out of Rs. 1,000 Crs., the Paid-Up Share Capital of NMDFC is Rs. 781.08 crs. In which Rs. 645.36 crs.  has been contributed by the Government of India and Rs. 135.72 crs. by the various State Governments as well as Union Territory administration. Only an amount of Rs. 55,000/- has been contributed by the Organizations & Individuals having interests in Minorities.

 

NMDFC has disbursed an amount of Rs. 1206.38 crs. for assisting 3,11,056 Beneficiaries under its Term Loan Scheme implemented through the State Channelising Agencies. NMDFC started its Micro-Credit Programme from the year 1998-99 and could disburse an amount of Rs. 90.78 Crs. for assisting 1,63,728 Beneficiaries.

A scheme for giving grants-in-aid to State Channelising agencies, for strengthening of their infrastructure, was launched during 2007-08. Under this scheme, assistance to SCAs is being provided for awareness campaigns, improvement in delivery systems, training of manpower and debt recovery. Rs.10 crore were released under the Scheme during 2007-08. This year i.e. in 2009-10, Rs. 2 crore is being released under the scheme. 

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KKP/