Govt focuses on educating minorities

New Delhi,

The Union Government has sanctioned over Rs 1,244 crore for scholarships for minority students under various schemes during 2014-2015. The schemes launched by the Union Ministry of Minority Affairs (MOMA) have been prioritised to ensure natural flow of welfare efforts to maximise benefits, a government official said.“The government gives the highest importance to the education of minorities. About 49 per cent of annual plan budget of the ministry is used on scholarship and fellowship programmes. Intensive efforts are being made for educational empowerment through pre-matric, post-matric, merit-cum-means-based scholarships and the Maulana Azad National Fellowship,” the official said.He added that the scholarships were being transferred into bank accounts of students through direct benefit transfer (DBT) in 2014-15. “As children do not have accounts, they are linked with the parent’s account under the Jan Dhan Yojana”, the official said.Besides, Maulana Azad Education Foundation, an autonomous body under the ministry, awards scholarships to 35,000 meritorious minority girls annually. The corpus of the foundation has been raised from Rs 750 crore to Rs 1,250 crore during 12th Plan.“Padho Pardesh” is another scheme on educational loans to minority students for higher studies. This became operational through Canara Bank this fiscal. Till December 19, Rs 2.28 crore has been released to 573 candidates.The government has also launched free coaching and allied scheme for minority students. Till December 19, total 444 students have been awarded financial assistance of Rs 128.50 lakh for clearing prelims exams conducted by UPSC, SSC and state PSCs.The government has sanctioned money under Multi-sectoral Development Programme to address the development deficits by creating socio-economic infrastructure and providing basic amenities. The government has identified 710 minority concentration blocks and 66 minority concentration towns and released Rs 677.88 crore.Rs 1,244 cr set aside for scholarships

The Centre has sanctioned over Rs 1,244 crore for scholarships for minority students under various schemes in 2014-15
About 49% of annual plan budget of the ministry is used on scholarship and fellowship programmes, an official said
“Padho Pardesh”, scheme on educational loans to minority students for higher studies, has benefited 573 candidates