MNS:- K Rahman Khan, the Union Minister of Minority Affairs says that the system to monitor implementation of schemes and programmes for minorities, is being improved to ensure that benefits reach the real targets. Interacting with media here today on the eve of Minorities Rights Day, Shri K Rahman Khan said that Sachchar Committee has stressed on educational and economic backwardness and social conditions of the Minorities. Protecting Wakf properties and developing these for larger benefit of the community is another focus area, the Minister added. India is a country of diverse faiths, religions, cultures and languages. India’s strength lies in diversity of its people. This diversity gives us an opportunity to learn, cultivate and inculcate the essence of unity by caring for our 18.5% minority population comprising about 220 million people. To ensure that every section of the society gets its due share, due care and due opportunity in every walk of life, Indian Government rededicates itself for the growth and development of minorities on the eve of Minorities Rights Day.
Tomorrow is Minorities Rights Day. On 18th December 1992 the United Nations promulgated the “Declaration on the Rights of Persons belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities” in order to strengthen the cause of the minorities.
· Ministry of Minority Affairs aims to facilitate growth and development of Minorities of the country by ensuring:
Right to Education;
Constitutional Rights;
Economic Empowerment;
Empowerment of Women;
Equal Opportunities;
Protection and Security under Law;
Protection of valuable assets like Wakf properties; and
Participation in the planning process.
· In order to strengthen the cause of the minorities, the United Nations promulgated the “Declaration on the Rights of Persons belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities” on 18th December 1992 proclaiming that:
“States shall protect the existence of the National or Ethnic, Cultural, Religious and Linguistic identity of minorities within their respective territories and encourage conditions for the promotion of that identity.”
“States shall adopt appropriate legislative and other measures to achieve these ends”.
· The mandate of Ministry of Minority Affairs is to ensure a focused approach towards issues relating to the minorities and to facilitate the formulation of overall policy, planning, coordination, evaluation and review of the regulatory framework and development programmes for the benefit of the minority communities. Ministry aims for inclusive development of minorities namely Muslims, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist and Parsis.
· From the current financial year 2012-13 of 12th Five Year Plan, the Ministry further strengthened multi-pronged strategy for development of minority communities with focus on:
Area development:
Prime Minister’s 15 Point Programme
Multi-sectoral Development Programme
Educational empowerment:
Pre-Matric Scholarship Scheme
Post Matric Scholarship Scheme
Merit-cum-Means Scholarship Scheme
Maulana Azad National Fellowship
Schemes of Maulana Azad Educational Foundation (Maulana Azad National Scholarship for meritorious girls; Grant-in Aid to NGOs for development of Educational Infrastructure)
Empowerment of Minority Women:
Scheme of Leadership Development of Minority Women started from current financial year.
Economic empowerment:
Schemes of National Minorities Development and Finance Corporation (NMDFC) namely, Term Loans, Micro-Finance, Educational Loans which provide loans at concessional interest rates to minorities.
Strengthening of minority institutions:
Scheme for computerization of State Wakf Boards.
Achievements during 2012-13:
Under Prime Minister’s New 15 Point Programme for Minorities, 269770 houses under Indira Awas Yojana sanctioned.
Rs. 171960.71 Crore extended to minorities under Priority Sector Lending.
Under Multi-Sectoral Development Programme, Rs. 389.96 Crore have been released till date for construction of 4519 IAY houses, 106 Health Centres, 1081 Anganwadi Centres, 14293 Hand Pumps, 19 School Buildings, 613 Additional Class Rooms, 27 ITIs, 11 Polytechnics and 77 Hostels.
Rs. 438.93 Crore released for Scholarships.
Implementation of Scheme for Leadership Development of Minority Women started.
Rs. 69.78 Lakh released to State Wakf Boards for computerization of records.
25 State Wakf Boards have established Central Computing Facilities.
Maulana Azad Educational Foundation has increased the number of meritorious girl students to 25,000 for award of Maulana Azad National Scholarship.
Loans for Rs. 133.25 Crore disbursed to 32374 minority beneficiaries by NMDFC.
Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/government-is-commited-to-development-of-minorities/
