SM Fasiullah for BeyondHeadlines
Ministry of Minority Affairs, Government of India, plans to spend Rs. 1770 crore on scholarship programs during 2013-14, up by 410 crore from the previous year (first year of 12th Five Year Plan).
During 2012-13, the ministry released Rs. 1360 crore to support education of over 72 lakh minority students under scholarship schemes.
This year, the earmarked budget for the ministry is Rs.3511 crore, out of which Rs.1250 crore will be spent on area development in 710 minority concentration blocks and 66 towns.
The ministry noted in a release that it is adopting a multi-pronged strategy for the development of minority communities with focus on educational empowerment, area development, beefing up minority institutions, etc.
During 2012-13, the ministry released Rs. 646.42 Crore under Multi-sectoral Development Programme (MsDP), under which many projects were taken up including 14244 IAY houses, 2101 more class rooms, 36 schools, 151 hostels, 1885 anganwadi, 14917 drinking water facilities, 307 health centers, 793 toilets, 41 ITIs and 13 polytechnics.
Nearly Rs. 2672 crore were disbursed during 11th Five Year Plan to over 1,04,00,000 minority students covering more than 30% of them were minority girls.
The ministry has earmarked Rs. 100 crore for Maulana Azad Education Foundation for providing medical aid to minorities. The modalities to release the funds are being considered.
In addition, a proposal to establish five central universities under the aegis of Maulana Azad Educational Foundation with focus on minorities is being examined in the ministry.
The latest developments also include infrastructure development of Minority institutions under the scheme of Department of School Education and Literacy, quality education in Madrasas, and the recruitment of minorities by Department of Personnel and Training.
