The present Government has accelerated the pace of welfare of six notified minorities including the implementation of the existing schemes. The thrust area of the present Government is skilling of minority youth and their placement and also preservation of Heritage of Minorities including promotion of their traditional Arts and Crafts. These programmes/schemes are being reviewed and restructured in accordance with the policies of the present Government.

The details of the steps being taken by the present Government for the welfare of the Minorities are-

–               USTAAD:- The Scheme aims at upgrading Skills and Training in preservation of traditional   Ancestral Arts/Crafts of minorities.

–               Hamari Darohar:- The Scheme aims to preserve rich heritage of minority communities in context of Indian culture.

–               Khwaza Garib Nawaz Senior Secondary School will be established at Ajmer by Maulana Azad Education Foundation (MAEF) to give a fillip to minority education.

–               Nai Manzil: A bridge course to bridge the academic and skill development gaps of the deeni Madrasa passouts with their mainstream counterparts.

–               Strengthening of State Wakf Boards: The scheme envisages to provide assistance for meeting the training and administrative cost of State Wakf Boards, removal of encroachment from Waqf Properties and also strengthening of Zonal/Regional offices of Waqf Boards.

The details of steps taken by the previous Government for minority welfare and achievements made thereof include

• Multi Sectoral Development Programme (MsDP): –      This is an area development scheme which aims to improve the quality of life of the people and reduce imbalances in the Minority Concentration Districts (MCDs). Identified development deficits are addressed through a district specific plan with provision of infrastructure creation for schools, sanitation, pucca housing, drinking water and electricity supply, besides beneficiary oriented schemes. The focus of this programme is on rural and semi-rural areas of the identified 90 Minority Concentration Districts. The scheme has been restructured for implementation during 12th Five Year Plan. Block has been made the unit of planning in place of district, the programme has been expanded to minority concentration towns/cities and cluster of minority concentration villages. The restructured programme covers 710 Minority Concentration Bocks (MCBs) & 66 Minority Concentration Towns (MCTs) covering 196 districts of 26 States in the country. This would sharpen the focus on minority concentration areas.Since inception, projects of Rs. 6310.61 Crore have been approved under MsDP and Rs. 4534.25 Crore has been released for its implementation. 1092 Schools building, 20,756 additional Class rooms, 645 hostels, 3645 Health Centers, 34,533 Anganwadi Centers, 117 ITIs, 44 Polytechnic Institutes, 40,799 Drinking Water supply, 3,35743 houses on Indra Awas Yojana pattern have been approved under MsDP till 31^st March,2014.<span “times=”” new=”” roman”`=”” style=”line-height: 16.8666667938232px;”>

• Pre-matric Scholarship Scheme:-   Under this Scheme, scholarships are awarded to minority students up to class X, who have secured not less than 50% marks in the previous final examination and the annual income of their parents/ guardian from all sources does not exceed Rs. 1.00 lakh. 30% of the scholarships are earmarked for girl students. During the year 2013-14 total achievement is 7794190 and the amount released of Rs. 963.79 Crore.

• Post-matric Scholarship Scheme:-    Under this Scheme, scholarships are awarded to minority students from class XI onwards who have secured not less than 50% marks or equivalent grade in the previous final examination and the annual income of whose parents/ guardian from all sources does not exceed Rs.2.00 lakh. 30% of the scholarships are earmarked for girl students. During the year 2013-14 total achievement is 890467 and the amount release of Rs. 515.76 Crore.

• Maulana Azad National Fellowship For Minority Students: –    The objective of the Fellowship is to provide integrated five year fellowships in the form of financial assistance to minority students to pursue higher studies such as M.Phil and Ph.D. The Fellowship covers all Universities/Institutions recognized by the University Grants Commission (UGC). 30% of the Scholarships are earmarked for the girl students. During the year 2013-14 total Fellowship sanctioned 3776 under the scheme and the amount release of Rs. 50 Crore.

• Merit-cum Means based Scholarship: –   The Merit-cum means based Scholarship Scheme provides financial assistance to the poor and meritorious minority students pursuing professional studies at graduate and post-graduate levels. 30% of the scholarships are earmarked for girl students.