minorities welfare and upa initiatives

8/14/2019 MINORITIES WELFARE AND UPA INITIATIVES

1/7

MINORITIES WELFARE AND UPA GOVERNMENT INITIATIVES : AN ANALYSISDr. M.A. Baseer,Lecturer, Yeshwant Mahavidyalaya,Nanded-431602E-mail : [email protected]

E-mail:[email protected]

ABSTRACTThe present paper deals with the comprehensive analysis of Prime M

inisters New 15 Point Programme for the welfare of Minorities and initiatives taken in pursuance of the recommendations of the Sachar Committee .It covers allthe National Flagship Schemes ,Development Programmes being implemented with specific targets for SCs ,STs ,OBCs while Minorities are not being benefited by that schemes ,although their educational, social and economical condition is worstthan those of SCs ,STs, OBCs in different parts of the country ..

For the welfare of minorities Late Prime Minister Smt. Indira Gandhi had released a 20 Point Programme in 1970, in pursuance of which not a singleprogramme was implemented. Then Late Prime Minister Shri Rajiv Gandhi declareda 15 Point Programme among which seven points were to control the communal riots. That 15 Point Programme was not aimed to eradicate the educational backwardness of Muslims, although educational backwardness of Muslims is the only cause of their socio, economical and political backwardness.

The present Prime Minister

s New 15 Point Programme aims at providing equal development opportunities to minorities with definite goals to be achieved in a specific time frame.

The objectives of the programme are as follows;a) Enhancing opportunities for education.b) Ensuring an equitable share for minorities in economic activities and employment, through existing and new schemes, enhanced credit support for self-employment, and recruitment to State and Central Govt. jobs.c) Improving the conditions of living of minorities by ensuring an appropriate share for them in infrastructure development schemes.d) Prevention and control of communal disharmony and violence.This programme provides that wherever possible, 15% targets and outlays under various schemes should be earmarked for minorities.

The schemes amenable to such earmarking are :A) Enhancing opportunities for Education :1) Equitable availability of ICDS Services :Integrated Child Development Services through Anganwadies.

2) Improving access to school Education :Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya Sche

me (KGBVS) and other similar Govt. schemes.B) Equitable Share in Economic Activities and Employment :1) Self Employment and Wage Employment for the poor.(a) Swarnjayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SJSY)(b) Swarnjayanti Shahri Rozgar Yojana (SJSRY)(c) Sampurn Grameen Rozgar Yojana (SGRY)2) Upgradation of skills through technical training.

New Industrail Training Institution (ITI) and upgradation of existing ITIs.3) Enhanced Credit Support for Economic Activities.(a) Bank Credit under priority sector lending.C) Improving the conditions of living of Minorities :1) Equitable share in rural housing scheme Indira Awas Yojana (IAY)2) Improvement in condition of slums inhabited by minority communities.Integrated Housing and Slum Development Programme (IHSDP) Basic Services for Urban Poor (BSUP) under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM)It has been observed that many of the centrally sponsored schemes and schemes under Bharat Nirman and National Flagship Programs are not included in the P.M s n


2/7

ew 15 Point Program. Such as A) Under enhancing opportunities of education, only ICDS, SSA and KGBVs areincluded while Mid-Day Meal Scheme, strengthening of Teacher Training Institutes, Mahila Samakhya, National Mission for Female Literacy, support to NGOs for Adult Education and Skill Development, Merged Schemes of Literacy Campaign and Continuing Education, Jan Shikshan Sansthans, Scheme for Universal Access and Quality at Secondary Stage (SUCCESS), National Scheme for Incentive to girl child, Navodaya Vidyalayas, Kendriya Vidyalayas, New Model Schools, Sainik Schools, National Institute of Open Schooling, Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA), Community Colleges, Top Class Education in Private/Un-aided Schools, Scheme for Settingup of 6000 Model Schools at Block level, Inclusive Education for disabled atSecondary Schools, National Means-Cum-Merit Scholarship Scheme (one lakhscholarships per year), Vocationalisation of Education, Community Polytechnics,Information and Communication Technology in Schools, Scheme for Construction and Running Girls Hostels for Secondary and Higher Secondary Students and at college level (2000 Girls Hostels with a unit cost of Rs. 1 crore will be provided inXI Plan out of which 300 Hostels must be for minorities), National Bal Bhavan,Institutes of Higher Education and Research, Establishment of Universities, Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research (INSPIRE) Scholarship Scheme (10,000 scholarships per year) Scholarship for continuing Science Education, National Knowledge Network, Fellowship for Research and Study in India and abroad (National Overseas Scholarships), Scholarship for college/university students (newlydeclared 82,000 scholarships), PG Indira Gandhi Scholarship Scheme (to single girl child students), CSIR Program on Youth for Leadership in Science, National T

alent Search Exams, Student loans to Weaker Section (with full interest subsidy). The benefits of all these schemes must be targeted for minorities with respect o their population and backwardness as being earmarked for SCs, STs and OBCs.

The National Policy on Education (NPE) commits itself to provide all possible means for the uplift of the educationally backward minorities. The National Monitoring Committee for Minorities Education (NMCME) is constituted by the Ministry of HRD in 2004 to look into all aspects of education of minorities and suggest ways and means to improve the conditions for educational empowerment of minorities.

The Madarsa Modernisation Programme has been revised by providing bettersalary to teachers, increased assistance for books, teaching aids and computers, introduction of vocational subjects. This Central Sponsored Scheme is Quality

Improvement in Madarasa Education (SPQEM) with a budget provision of Rs. 325 crore in XI plan. It is targeted to cover 4500 to 6000 Madarsas.In very few Madarsas, Government has extended its Mid-day Meal Scheme.A new Centrally Sponsored Scheme of financial assistance for Infrastructure Development of privately managed Minority Schools (IDMI) has been launched with an outlay of Rs. 125 Cr. in XI Plan.Universalisation of Access to Quality Education at Secondary Stage (SUCCESS) hasbeen approved. Setting up of new Jan Shikshan Sansthans (JSSs) is being incorporated in the revised scheme by the MHRD. Provision of more Girls Hostels in colleges and universities in Minority Concentrated Districts/Blocks is proposed under existing UGC scheme ( as stated by Minister of MoMA in Rajya Sabha on 4th August, 2009) But the achievement of these schemes are not submitted by the Hon

bleMinister.

The Mid-day Meal Scheme has been extended to 3479 educationally backward blocksin 2007-08, out of which 564 blocks are of Muslim minority concentration, and the remaining 1228 Muslim concentration blocks were targeted to be covered during2008-09.Only 77 blocks with a high concentration of Muslims have been identified for establishing BITEs to impart Teachers Training.Training of Urdu Medium Teacher for modern subjects is started only at AMU, JMIand MANUU, which did not cater the needs of thousands of Urdu Medium teachers for their professional development. UGC, AICTE, NCTE, MCI, PCI, Dept. of School Education (MHRD) etc. must be asked


3/7

to develop a comprehensive policy for fair share in various schemes for minorities. The National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions (NCMEI) must havestatutory powers so that it should effectively implement minorities rights to establish and administer educational institution of their choice and higher and technical educational institutions should get the direct affiliation with CentralUniversities without any local hurdles.A total of 88 Minority Concentrated Districts would be covered under XI Plan ofincentivising States to set up colleges in districts with lower than the National Gross Enrolment Ratio in higher education.A new centrally sponsored scheme is proposed for assistance to polytechnics which ensures that each Muslim Minority Concentrated District has a polytechnic forwhich non-recurring expenditure is proposed to be made available. ( Press Release MHRD, dated 17th January, 2008). To reduce the dropout rate among minorities, in built mechanism for upgrading eucational needs of minorities like coaching classes/ remedial teaching must be provided in all schools/colleges. Still no sincere efforts are made to increase the access of minorities in educational institutions. Madarsa pass-outs must berecognised for admissions in formal University Degree Programs. Elimination of religion based discrimination and harassment in educational insttutions should be ensured by institutes by establishing Equal Opportunity Offices.B) Under Equitable Share in Economic Activities and Employment, Schemes like Prime Ministers Employment Generation Program ( PMEGP), Skill Development Miss

ion, Work Shed Schemes for artisans, Scheme for enhancing productivity and competitiveness for Khadi industries artisans, Weavers, Handloom Weavers Comprehensive Welfare Scheme, Skilled labours, Handicraft Artisans Comprehensive Welfare Scheme, Scholarships to aspiring Pilot Trainees etc. are not included. Minoritiesmust be benefited by such activities. Special programmes of employment are verynecessary to reduce the huge unemployment among minorities specially Muslims. Priority needs to be given to Minorities in EGS with proper monitoring of coverge. The labour force need to be provided with job oriented training under the Appretice Act to enable them to have better job opportunities.There is an urgent need to ensure upgradation of skills of minorities so that they can compete better in the market. Credit flow must be unhampered and easy toaccess, specially in occupations which have been the traditional forte of minor

ity categories. A suitable marketing strategy needs to be worked out on the lines of TRIFED to market the products manufactured by Small Muslim Artisans. NMDFC providing credit to minorities have been facing the problems of insufficent amount for disbursing loans. There is need to restructure the schemes so that they become more sustainable. The corporation need to be thoroughly professinalised so that the programmes financed by them help develop entrepreneurial skills of the minority loanees. The strength and capability of NMDFC must be augmented. Minority students who can not continue their education after schooling beprovided with vocational training/skill training programs in ITIs/Polytechnics.These institutions should have adequate seats on population basis and should b

e located closer to minority concentrated areas.C) Under improving the conditions of living of minorities, only IAY, IHSDPand JNNURM are included.

Further, this new 15 point program for development of minorities do notinclude any welfare scheme for minorities youth and no provision is made to earmark the funds in any of the Health Scheme like National Food Security Mission, National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme, National Program for control of Blindness, Revised National TB Control Program, National Leprosy Eradication Program, Immunisation, AIDS Control Program,Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana, Aam Aadmi Bima Yojana, Integrated Child Protection Scheme, National Program for Elderly.Under better infrastructure development, Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana, Rajiv Gandhi Drinking Water Mission, Total Sanitation Campaign, Pradhan Mantr


4/7

i Gram Sadak Yojana (PMSGY), Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana (PMAGY), PradhanMantri Gramodaya Yojana (PMGY) are not included in the present P.M

s new 15 point programme.

Recently in the end of October 2009, three schemes ; National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP), Urban Infrastructure Development Scheme for Smalland Medium Towns (UIDSSMT) and Urban Infrastructure and Governance (UIG) are approved by Govt. of India for minority welfare.

Public distribution system has emerged as a poverty alleviation measureand has become a permanent feature in Indian Economy. All over the world, it has been understood that it is not the optimum levels of the production alone, butthe levels of equitable distribution that can ensure maximum welfare of the largest population. Under public distribution system, the Government has adopted many welfare schemes by allocating and off taking the food grains such as rice and wheat e.g. Mid Day Meal Scheme (MDM) Scheme for supply of food grains to Hostels/Welfare Institutions. Wheat Based Nutrition Programme (WBNP) Annapurna Scheme Sampoorna Gramin Rozgar Yojana (SGRY) Nutritional Programme for Adolescent Girls (NPAG) National Food for Work Programme (NFFWP) Emergency Feeding Programme (EFP)Except SGRY, in any of the above scheme, 15% targets are not earmarked for the deserving minorities, hence they are being marginalized by food security benefits

. Although the main objective of the Eleventh Five Year Plan is " Faster and More Inclusive Growth". This plan is designed to reduce poverty and focus onbridging the various divides that continue to fragment our society. Inclusivegrowth demands that all social groups have equal access to the services providedby the State.

But the P.M s New 15 Point Program seems to be failed to achieve the desired goal of XI Plan due to non inclusion of aforementioned National level development programs for benefiting the minorities. The desired "inclusive growth" can be achieved by providing equal opportunitiesto minorities and all the welfare programmes must not be just suggestive in nature. The 15 % targets ( with specific distribution among minorities as per theirpopulation) under all the central welfare schemes must be made mandatory.

Special component plan for Minorities just like that for SCs & STs can only sove this problem for which Minorities Budgeting Methodology must be followed in Union Budget. As evident from the Sachar Committee, Muslims are far behind than the SCs, STs,OBCs and other minorities. The special Muslim Minorities Component Plan is theneed of hour which must be implemented in forthcoming Five Year Plans. It musthave the provisions for earmarking population proportionate funds in each Central Ministry and Department for the development of Muslims and other minorities asthat provided for SCs, STs, OBCs.

A critical look on the achievements for 15% of the allocation earmarkedfor Minorities under various National level schemes reveals following findings;1) The Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme has budgetary allocation of Rs. 44,400 Cr. in XI Plan period. It s 15% means Rs. 6,660 Cr. must

be utilised for minorities.

Year Budget Allocation Funds Released 15% targeted for Minorities2007-08 5293 Cr. 5170.34 Cr. 793.95 Cr.2008-09 6300 Cr. 6294.50 Cr. 945.00 Cr.2009-10 6705 Cr. 3598.59 Cr.(upto 31/8/2009) 1005.75 Cr.

In October 2008, the Government took a major initiative to universalizeICDS by increasing the number of Anganwadis to 14 lakh from 10 lakh. While expanding the scheme, focus has been given to SC/ST/Minorities dominated areas. 2.6


5/7

6 lakh number of Anganwadis were sanctioned under 3rd phase of expansion of ICDSin 2008-09, out of which 37,672 (14.13%) number of Angwanwadis are in 1228 identified CD Blocks where minority population is 25% and above including 10715 AWCsin 32 MCDs. Hence, out of the total 13.56 lakh number of operational Anganwadi Centres, verfew of them are operational for minorities (just 37,672). This scheme needs to be extended in all blocks having minority population 15% and above.

A micro level analysis must be performed to assess the further needs after universalization of ICDS in all habitation.2) Under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) for the year 2008-09, according to HRDMinistry s report upto 31st December 2008, published on 12th May 2009, only 6,972 number of teachers were appointed against targeted sanctioned 21,945 posts (31% achievement ), out of total 1.07 lakh new teachers recruitment. In Minorityconcentrated 90 districts identified, 4,404 new primary schools were targeted for the construction, out of which only 3,226 schools were constructed while total 52,431 number of schools

construction was approved during 2008-09. 4,154 newupper primary schools were to be established, but 2,238 schools are started ( 53.87 % achievement ). 1.75 lakh additional class rooms were approved for construction, out of which 21,102 were planned to be constructed for Minorities, but 14,142 additional class rooms were constructed ( 67.01 % achievement.) Apart from this, the report for the following targets is not published.

Construction of Toilets in 7,132 schools (it

s 15% means 1,069 Minorityschools) ; Providing Drinking Water Facilities in 24,399 schools ( 3,659 minority schools); Provision of Free Text Books to 8.97 Cr. students ( 1.34 Cr. minori

ty students) ; School grant to 11.82 lakh schools (1.773 lakh minority schools); Teacher grant to 41.47 lakh teachers (6.22 lakh minority teachers @ Rs. 500/-per teacher ) ; School Building maintenance grant to 10.18 lakh schools ( 1.527lakh minority schools) and Education Guarantee Scheme Centres Alternative and Innovative Education Facilities for 64.73 lakh children ( 9.70 lakh minority children).In short, out of Rs. 13,100 crore allocated for SSA during 2008-09, Rs. 1,965 Cr. must have been utilized for minorities (15% share). This report reveals the under achievements of various provisions / programs eararked for minorities. Hence PM s New 15 Point Program for development of minorities is failed in letter and spirit.

Further, under Bharat Nirman project dedicated to building a strong and prosperous India, in last four years, 2.4 lakh schools were opened (among whic

h 0.36 lakh must be for minorities), 8 lakh teachers were appointed( 1.2 lakh must be teachers for minorities). Decision to establish 1000 polytechnics, means150 polytechnics must be for minorities, 30 Central Universities, means 5 Universities must be in minority concentrated districts benefiting exclusively the minorities.3) Kasturba Gandhai Balika Vidyalayas (KGBVs)

Total number of Muslim girls in 1226 operational KGBVs wre 4178 (5.17 %)out of the total girls enrolled i.e. 80880 as on 11th July, 2007.Total number of girls enrolled in 2511 KGBVs are 1,91,123; out of which only 14,366 are muslim girls ( 7.52 % against 15% target) as on 15th July, 2009.

Out of the total 2,180 KGBVs sanctioned, only 266 are in Muslim populated blocks ( over 20% Muslim population ); 622 are in SC and 583 in ST populated Blocks.

4) Swarnjayanti Gram Swarazgar Yojana (SGSY) :In a self employment program, 60,494 Swarozgaris belonging to the minori

ties were assisted in 2006-07 against the target of 1.63 lakh (37.1% achievement) out of a total of 10.91 lakh number of Swarozgaries targeted. This went up to1.43 lakh Minority Rozgaris against the target of 2.02 lakh in 2007-08 (70.79% achievement). The target for assisting Minority Rozgaris has been fixed at 2.64lakh in 2008-09, out of which 1.86 lakh Swarjogaris belonging to minorities wereassisted ( 70.45% achievement) Total number of Swarjozgaris assisted in this scheme during the year 2008-09 were 18,61,875 out of which number of SHG and individual Swarjogaris achievement for minorities were 2,75,121 ( 14.78%) ( as per th


6/7

e annual report of Ministry of Rural Development).But the online report available shows that 55887 number of minorities me

mbers of SHGs assisted out of total 509345 and 9873 number of minority individual swarozgaries assisted out of total 115377 during 2008-09 which become approximately 10% only.Credit and subsidy disbursed to minorities in 2007-08 is Rs. 1,918.5 Cr. againsttotal of Rs. 13,789.56 Cr. ( 13.91 % for minorities ), in 2008-09, Rs. 158.27 Cr. out of total Rs. 5,185 Cr. ( 3.05 % for minorities ). Number of minority swarozgaris assisted under special projects during 2007-08 are 6,535 out of total 28,82,151 ( just 0.22% for minorities) while in 2008-09, 5,148 out of total 22,37,374 ( just 0.23% for minorities). Number of Individual Minority Swarjogaris assisted for Economic Activities during 2007-08, 18,544 out of 2,44,628 ( 7.58% for minorities) and in 2008-09, 31,509 out of 2,93,207 ( 10.74% for minorities).Number of Minority Self Help Groups assisted for economic activities during 2007-08 are 1,19,207 out of total 11,45,056 (10.41% for minorities) and in 2008-09,1,53,472 out of 13,45,800 (11.40% for minorities).

5) Swarnjayanti Shahri Swarozgar Yojana (SJSRY)15% of physical and financial targets regarding assistance for micro ent

erprises and skill training under SJSRY have been earmarked to minorities. 15,933 beneficiaries from minorities were assisted for skill training against 22539targeted out of the total 1.5 lakh in 2006-07. In 2007-08, the achievements rose substantially to 41,466. While in 2008-09, upto end of December, 13,742 werethe beneficiaries among minorities. For the year 2008-09, an outlay of Rs. 540.67 crores has been approved for the scheme, of which Rs. 81 Cr. must be utilise

d for minorities. RBI circular dated 12th Oct. 2009 restricts Branch Manager ofBanks not to reject the applications of SCs, STs. Higher official than the Branch Manager can reject the application. The reason of rejection may also be communicated to sponsoring agency. Similar measures are required for minorities toget the fair benefit from SJSRY.

6) Sampoorna Gramin Razgar Yojana (SGRY) :Under the employment generation program of SGRY, Rs. 29,091.55 crores we

re earmarked during 2006-07 for works benefiting the minorities, out of whichRs. 1,922.26 Cr. ( i.e. 6.6% ) were utilised. During 2007-08, against earmarkedallocation of Rs. 16,056.02 Crores for minorities, works for a total amount ofRs. 3,970.97 Cr. (i.e. 24.7%) had benefited the minorities (upto Dec. 2007). After the promulgation of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, the SGSR pr

ogram had subsumed with NREGS in the initial 330 districts where the Act is in operation.During the year 2008-09, total budget for this scheme is Rs. 12,040 Cror

e, for benefiting minorities, Rs. 1,806 Cr. must be allocated.7) Scheme to improve representation of Minorities in Govt. Services :

Revised guidelines to improve the representation of minorities in Govt.Services ( Central & State ) and Public Sector undertakings have been issued bythe Department of Personnel & Training on 8th January 2007.

On 4th August, 2009, Govt. has said that, statistics of Employment of Minority Community persons, including Muslims, in the Central Government Servicesis not maintained on the basis of particular religion, but for all the five minorities as a whole. The number of persons belonging to the minority communities recruited during la

t three years in the various Ministries/Departments and their organisations aregiven below;

2006-07 - 12,182 minority persons ( 6.95% of the total recruited)2007-08 - 12,195 minority persons ( 8.65% of the total recruited)2008-09 - 4,479

As per information published on 6th August 2009, the minority share in 2008-09 has risen in PSUs and Central Ministries and Departments, but it has dipped in public sector banks and financial institutions. The recruitment of minorities inBanks and Financial Institutions last year was 8.86%, down from 10.19% in 2007-08. While in Central Ministries/Departments it was 9.42% increased from previous


7/7

year. In PSU, 7.56% minorities were recruited. Unfortunately, the percentage of minority candidates being selected/recruited ivarious State departments is still 2-3% ( e.g. in Maharashtra Police Services). However, Ministry of Railways has recently declared that the forthcoming recruiment exams will be conducted in regional languages and Urdu, definitely it willhelp to improve the representation of Muslims in Railways, likewise Staff Selection Exams, Defence Services Exams, Banking Services Exams, Police Recruitment Exams and other State competitive exams must also be conducted in the regional aswell as Urdu languages.

minorities welfare and upa initiatives

Documents