Context:-

• Highlighting the significance of education for religious minorities in India, Niti Aayog released a policy document in 2017 calling for measures to improve the implementation of current programmes. 
• However, in the past five years, centre has discontinued, narrowed the scope and gradually cut down on the expenditure incurred on multiple programmes of the Ministry of Minority Affairs.

Why were scholarships for religious minorities introduced?

• India is home to over 30 crore (20%) people from religious minority communities.
• Muslims make up the largest minority group at 14.2%, followed by Christians (2.3%), Sikhs (1.7%), Buddhists (0.7%), Jains (0.4%), and Zoroastrians (around 57,000).
• Muslims, in particular, face challenges in the economic, health, and educational sectors. Many are employed in the informal sector, characterized by low wages and limited social security.
• Educational empowerment: The Manmohan Singh-led UPA government established the Ministry of Minority Affairs in 2006.
• The introduction of the 15-point Programme for the Welfare of Minorities, including educational empowerment through scholarships, was a significant step in this direction.
• Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan data indicates that the highest proportion of out-of-school children belongs to the Muslim community (4.43%), followed by Hindus (2.73%), Christians (1.52%), and others (1.26%).

Employment and Economic Empowerment Schemes:

• Pradhan Mantri Virasat Ka Samvardhan (PMVIKAS):
  • Aims to preserve and promote the rich cultural heritage of minority communities.
  • Supports traditional crafts, art forms, and cultural practices to empower artisans and craftsmen.
• NMDFC Scheme:
  • Provides concessional loans to minorities to support their economic ventures and entrepreneurship.
  • Enables economic self-reliance and promotes sustainable livelihoods.

• Special Schemes:
  • Jiyo Parsi:
    • A unique scheme aimed at reversing the population decline of the Parsi community in India.
    • Implements measures to encourage Parsi families to have more children and sustain their community’s cultural legacy.
  • Qaumi Waqf Board Taraqqiati Scheme (QWBTS) and Shahari Waqf Sampatti Vikas Yojana (SWSVY):
    • Focuses on the development and utilization of waqf properties for the welfare of minority communities.
    • Enhances infrastructure and facilities in waqf properties to serve the community better.

Challenges and Impact:

• Reduction in beneficiaries and funding has impacted the implementation of schemes, resulting in a widening gap in education and economic parameters.
  • More than Rs 2,500 crore were allocated for such schemes in 2022-23, but there was a massive underutilisation of funds even after the estimate was revised to Rs 1,584 crore.
• Poor coverage of beneficiaries and unchanged low unit costs remain hurdles in scheme implementation. Coverage has remained unchanged for about 15 years. 
• Worsening of Situation: Muslim students’ enrolment in higher education is lagging behind other communities, worsening the existing disparities.
  • Of the total 4.13 crore college students, less than 20 lakh Muslims are enrolled in higher education institutes as per the All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE), 2020-2021, conducted by the Ministry of Education.

What is the way forward?

• NITI Aayog’s 2018 policy recommended strengthening scholarships, including pre-matric, post-matric, merit-cum-means, Maulana Azad Fellowships, and national overseas scholarships.
• It proposed a 15% annual increase from 2019-20 and a 10% increase in scholarships for girls from minority communities.
• The Centre for Budget and Governance Accountability urges using the 15-Point Programme for tailored interventions in minority-concentrated areas.
• It emphasizes targeted schemes/programs, demand-driven scholarships, increased financial resources, and enhanced unit costs in the Ministry of Minority Affairs for addressing educational deprivation among minorities.

Conclusion

• In recent times, the restructuring of programmes, under-utilisation of funds, and reduced budgetary allocations have impacted the implementation and goals of educational schemes for minorities.
• Millions of students have benefited from the scholarship programmes of the MoMA. Therefore, the decision to discontinue the scholarships is especially concerning the Muslim students.

MCQs about based on the provided information

Question 1: What was the purpose of the 15-point Programme for the Welfare of Minorities introduced by the Ministry of Minority Affairs in India?

a) Promoting traditional crafts and art forms
b) Providing loans for economic ventures
c) Enhancing infrastructure in waqf properties
d) Empowering religious minority communities, including through scholarships

Question 2: Which religious minority group faces challenges in economic, health, and educational sectors in India?

a) Christians
b) Sikhs
c) Jains
d) Muslims

Question 3: Which government initiative aims to reverse the population decline of the Parsi community and sustain their cultural legacy?

a) Pradhan Mantri Virasat Ka Samvardhan (PMVIKAS)
b) Jiyo Parsi
c) NMDFC Scheme
d) Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan

Question 4: According to Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan data, which community has the highest proportion of out-of-school children?

a) Muslims
b) Christians
c) Hindus
d) Buddhists

Question 5: What did NITI Aayog’s 2018 policy recommend to improve scholarships for religious minorities?

a) Decrease in annual scholarship funding
b) Focus on waqf property development
c) Strengthening scholarships, including an annual increase and specific initiatives
d) Introduction of entrepreneurship schemes

Question 6: What is the primary focus of the Pradhan Mantri Virasat Ka Samvardhan (PMVIKAS) initiative?

a) Educational empowerment through scholarships
b) Providing concessional loans to minorities
c) Preserving and promoting cultural heritage of minority communities
d) Reversing the population decline of the Parsi community

Question 7: What is the primary objective of the NMDFC Scheme?

a) Providing scholarships for religious minorities
b) Preserving cultural heritage
c) Supporting economic ventures and entrepreneurship among minorities
d) Developing waqf properties

Question 8: Which organization suggests using targeted schemes and increased financial resources to address educational deprivation among minorities?

a) NITI Aayog
b) Centre for Budget and Governance Accountability
c) Ministry of Minority Affairs
d) Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan

Question 9: What has impacted the implementation and goals of educational schemes for minorities in recent times?

a) Overutilization of funds
b) Increase in budgetary allocations
c) Lack of demand for scholarships
d) Restructuring of programmes and reduced budgetary allocations

Question 10: Who is particularly affected by the decision to discontinue scholarships for religious minorities?

a) Christians
b) Sikhs
c) Buddhists
d) Muslim students

Read also:- Minorities

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