"Prime Minister's New 15-Point Programme for Welfare of Minorities" has been formulated as under:
I. Enhancing opportunities for education
Educational backwardness is one of the primary reasons for continued poverty and deprivation of any community. Consequently, enhancement of opportunities for education is a necessary intervention to address the problem of backwardness of any community.
(1) Equitable availability of ICDS services
The Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme is aimed at holistic development of children and pregnant/lactating mothers from disadvantaged sections, by providing services through Anganwadi Centres such as supplementary nutrition, immunisation, health check up referral services, pre-school and non-formal education. A certain percentage of the ICDS projects and Anganwadi Centres will be located in blocks/villages with substantial population of minority communities to ensure that the benefits of this scheme are equitably available to such communities also.
(2) Improving access to school education
The surest way of enabling access to schools for children of a particular community is to locate schools in localities/villages predominantly inhabited by that community. New elementary schools are opened in various localities/villages all over the country under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, the Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya Scheme, and other similar Government schemes. It will be ensured that a certain percentage of all such schools are located in localities/villages having substantial population of minority communities.
(3) Greater resources for teaching Urdu
Urdu is the mother tongue of a large number of people, but there is inadequate provision for teaching of this language. Central assistance will be provided for recruitment and posting of Urdu language teachers in primary and upper primary schools that serve a population in which at least one-fourth belong to that language group.
(4) Modernising Madrasa Education
The Central Plan Scheme of Area Intensive and Madrasa Modernisation Programme provides basic educational infrastructure in areas of concentration of educationally backward minorities and resources for the modernisation of Madrasa education. Keeping in view the importance of addressing this need, this programme will be substantially strengthened and more effectively implemented.
(5) Scholarships for meritorious students from minority communities
It is crucial that poverty does not come in the way of continuation of studies of meritorious students from minority communities. Therefore, a Scheme for Pre-Matriculation and Post- Matriculation Scholarships for students from minority communities will be formulated and implemented.
(6) Improving educational infrastructure through the Maulana Azad Education Foundation
The Maulana Azad Education Foundation has been set up to promote education amongst the educationally backward minorities. It provides grants to establish or expand schools, purchase lab equipments and furniture, construct hostel buildings, or strengthen vocational technical training facilities. Government shall provide all possible assistance to the Foundation, to strengthen and enable it to expand its activities more effectively.
II. Equitable share in economic activities and employment
No nation can develop fully till all communities and groups constituting it have an equitable share in economic opportunities and employment. Proactive measures become necessary when one or more communities lag behind and become increasingly marginalized. In such circumstances, focusing Government programmes towards these communities, with earmarking of targets, becomes necessary.
(7) Self-Employment and Wage Employment for the poor
(a) The Swarnajayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY) is the primary self-employment programme for rural areas, with the objective of bringing assisted poor families above the poverty line by providing them income generating assets through a mix of bank credit and governmental subsidy. The benefit of this programme should be adequately available to the minority communities also. Accordingly, a certain percentage of the physical and financial targets under the SGSY will be earmarked for beneficiaries belonging to the minority communities living below the poverty line in rural areas.
(b) The equivalent self-employment programme for the urban areas is the Swarnajayanati Shahari Rozgar Yojana (SSRY). It consists of two major components namely, the Urban Self-Employment Programme (USEP) and the Urban Wage Employment Programme (UWEP). A certain percentage of the physical and financial targets under USEP and UWEP will be earmarked to benefit people below the poverty line from the minority communities.
(c) The Sampoorna Grameen Rozgar Yojana (SGRY) is aimed at providing additional wage employment in rural areas, alongside creation of durable community, social and economic infrastructure. A certain percentage of the allocation under SGRY will be earmarked for beneficiaries belonging to the minority communities living below the poverty line. Simultaneously, a certain percentage of the allocation will be earmarked for the creation of infrastructure in such villages which have a substantial population of minorities.
(8) Upgradation of skills through technical training
A very large proportion of the population of minority communities is engaged in low-level technical work or earn their living as handicraftsmen. Provision of technical training to such people would upgrade their skills and earning capability. Therefore, a certain proportion of all new ITIs will be located in areas predominantly inhabited by minority communities and a proportion of existing ITIs to be upgraded to "Centres of Excellence" will be selected on the same basis.
(9) Enhanced credit support for economic activities
(a) The National Minorities Development and Finance Corporation (NMDFC) was set up with the objective of promoting economic development activities among the minority communities. The Corporation has been functioning since 1994. The Government is committed to strengthening the NMDFC by providing it greater equity support to enable it to fully achieve its objectives.
(b) Bank credit is essential for creation and sustenance of self-employment initiatives. A target of 40% of net bank credit for priority sector lending has been fixed for domestic banks. The priority sector includes, inter alia, agricultural loans, loans to small scale industries and small businesses, loans to retail traders, professionals and self-employed persons, educational loans, housing loans and micro-credit. It will be ensured that an appropriate percentage of the priority sector lending in all categories is targeted for the minority communities.
(10) Recruitment to State and Central Services
(a) In the recruitment of police personnel, State Governments will be advised to give special consideration to minorities. For this purpose, the composition of Selection Committees should be representative.
(b) The Central Government will take similar action in the recruitment of personnel to the Central Police Forces.
(c) Large scale employment opportunities are provided by the Railways, Nationalized Banks and Public Sector Enterprises. In these cases as well, the Ministries/Departments concerned will ensure that special consideration is given to recruitment from minority communities.
(d) The Government implements a number of schemes for pre-examination coaching of candidates belonging to weaker sections of society, including poor students from minority communities. An exclusive scheme will be launched for candidates belonging to minority communities to provide coaching in Government institutions as well as in reputed private coaching institutes which have a track record of showing good results in competitive examinations. Government will provide funds to pay the fees on behalf of meritorious candidates from minority communities who enroll in these selected private institutes.
III. Improving the conditions of living of minorities
A very large number of people belonging to minority communities live in slums in urban areas, often ignored by the local government agencies. In rural areas, they are often amongst the poorest of the poor, not able to afford a proper house to live in.
(11) Equitable share in rural housing scheme
The Indira Awaas Yojana (IAY) provides financial assistance for shelter to the rural poor living below the poverty line. A certain percentage of the physical and financial targets under JAY will be earmarked for rural poor beneficiaries from minority communities.
(12) Improvement in condition of slums inhabited by minority communities
Under the National Slum Development Programme (NSDP), the Central Government provides assistance to States/UTs for development of urban slums through provision of physical amenities like water supply, storm water drains, widening and paving of existing lanes, sewers, community latrines, streetlights etc. The funds under NSDP can also be used for provision of community infrastructure and social amenities like pre-school education, adult education, maternal and child health etc. A certain percentage of the physical and financial targets under this programme will be earmarked for slums predominantly inhabited by the minority communities.
IV. Prevention and control of communal riots
Prevention and control of communal riots is a basic duty of the State. However, in the past decades, minority communities have suffered loss of lives and property on account of communal violence. The welfare of minority communities is inextricably linked with the effectiveness of measures adopted to address this issue.
(13) Prevention of communal incidents
In the areas which have been identified as communally sensitive and riot prone, District and Police Officials of the highest known efficiency, impartiality and secular record must be posted. In such areas, and even elsewhere, the prevention of communal tension should be one of the primary duties of the DM and the SP. Their performance in this regard should be an important factor in determining their promotion prospects.
(14) Prosecution for communal offences
Severe action should be taken against all those who incite communal tensions or take part in violence. Special court or courts specifically earmarked to try communal offences should be set up so that offenders are brought to book speedily.
(15) Rehabilitation of victims of communal riots
Victims of communal riots should be given immediate relief and provided prompt and adequate financial assistance for their rehabilitation.
I. Enhancing opportunities for education
Educational backwardness is one of the primary reasons for continued poverty and deprivation of any community. Consequently, enhancement of opportunities for education is a necessary intervention to address the problem of backwardness of any community.
(1) Equitable availability of ICDS services
The Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme is aimed at holistic development of children and pregnant/lactating mothers from disadvantaged sections, by providing services through Anganwadi Centres such as supplementary nutrition, immunisation, health check up referral services, pre-school and non-formal education. A certain percentage of the ICDS projects and Anganwadi Centres will be located in blocks/villages with substantial population of minority communities to ensure that the benefits of this scheme are equitably available to such communities also.
(2) Improving access to school education
The surest way of enabling access to schools for children of a particular community is to locate schools in localities/villages predominantly inhabited by that community. New elementary schools are opened in various localities/villages all over the country under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, the Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya Scheme, and other similar Government schemes. It will be ensured that a certain percentage of all such schools are located in localities/villages having substantial population of minority communities.
(3) Greater resources for teaching Urdu
Urdu is the mother tongue of a large number of people, but there is inadequate provision for teaching of this language. Central assistance will be provided for recruitment and posting of Urdu language teachers in primary and upper primary schools that serve a population in which at least one-fourth belong to that language group.
(4) Modernising Madrasa Education
The Central Plan Scheme of Area Intensive and Madrasa Modernisation Programme provides basic educational infrastructure in areas of concentration of educationally backward minorities and resources for the modernisation of Madrasa education. Keeping in view the importance of addressing this need, this programme will be substantially strengthened and more effectively implemented.
(5) Scholarships for meritorious students from minority communities
It is crucial that poverty does not come in the way of continuation of studies of meritorious students from minority communities. Therefore, a Scheme for Pre-Matriculation and Post- Matriculation Scholarships for students from minority communities will be formulated and implemented.
(6) Improving educational infrastructure through the Maulana Azad Education Foundation
The Maulana Azad Education Foundation has been set up to promote education amongst the educationally backward minorities. It provides grants to establish or expand schools, purchase lab equipments and furniture, construct hostel buildings, or strengthen vocational technical training facilities. Government shall provide all possible assistance to the Foundation, to strengthen and enable it to expand its activities more effectively.
II. Equitable share in economic activities and employment
No nation can develop fully till all communities and groups constituting it have an equitable share in economic opportunities and employment. Proactive measures become necessary when one or more communities lag behind and become increasingly marginalized. In such circumstances, focusing Government programmes towards these communities, with earmarking of targets, becomes necessary.
(7) Self-Employment and Wage Employment for the poor
(a) The Swarnajayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY) is the primary self-employment programme for rural areas, with the objective of bringing assisted poor families above the poverty line by providing them income generating assets through a mix of bank credit and governmental subsidy. The benefit of this programme should be adequately available to the minority communities also. Accordingly, a certain percentage of the physical and financial targets under the SGSY will be earmarked for beneficiaries belonging to the minority communities living below the poverty line in rural areas.
(b) The equivalent self-employment programme for the urban areas is the Swarnajayanati Shahari Rozgar Yojana (SSRY). It consists of two major components namely, the Urban Self-Employment Programme (USEP) and the Urban Wage Employment Programme (UWEP). A certain percentage of the physical and financial targets under USEP and UWEP will be earmarked to benefit people below the poverty line from the minority communities.
(c) The Sampoorna Grameen Rozgar Yojana (SGRY) is aimed at providing additional wage employment in rural areas, alongside creation of durable community, social and economic infrastructure. A certain percentage of the allocation under SGRY will be earmarked for beneficiaries belonging to the minority communities living below the poverty line. Simultaneously, a certain percentage of the allocation will be earmarked for the creation of infrastructure in such villages which have a substantial population of minorities.
(8) Upgradation of skills through technical training
A very large proportion of the population of minority communities is engaged in low-level technical work or earn their living as handicraftsmen. Provision of technical training to such people would upgrade their skills and earning capability. Therefore, a certain proportion of all new ITIs will be located in areas predominantly inhabited by minority communities and a proportion of existing ITIs to be upgraded to "Centres of Excellence" will be selected on the same basis.
(9) Enhanced credit support for economic activities
(a) The National Minorities Development and Finance Corporation (NMDFC) was set up with the objective of promoting economic development activities among the minority communities. The Corporation has been functioning since 1994. The Government is committed to strengthening the NMDFC by providing it greater equity support to enable it to fully achieve its objectives.
(b) Bank credit is essential for creation and sustenance of self-employment initiatives. A target of 40% of net bank credit for priority sector lending has been fixed for domestic banks. The priority sector includes, inter alia, agricultural loans, loans to small scale industries and small businesses, loans to retail traders, professionals and self-employed persons, educational loans, housing loans and micro-credit. It will be ensured that an appropriate percentage of the priority sector lending in all categories is targeted for the minority communities.
(10) Recruitment to State and Central Services
(a) In the recruitment of police personnel, State Governments will be advised to give special consideration to minorities. For this purpose, the composition of Selection Committees should be representative.
(b) The Central Government will take similar action in the recruitment of personnel to the Central Police Forces.
(c) Large scale employment opportunities are provided by the Railways, Nationalized Banks and Public Sector Enterprises. In these cases as well, the Ministries/Departments concerned will ensure that special consideration is given to recruitment from minority communities.
(d) The Government implements a number of schemes for pre-examination coaching of candidates belonging to weaker sections of society, including poor students from minority communities. An exclusive scheme will be launched for candidates belonging to minority communities to provide coaching in Government institutions as well as in reputed private coaching institutes which have a track record of showing good results in competitive examinations. Government will provide funds to pay the fees on behalf of meritorious candidates from minority communities who enroll in these selected private institutes.
III. Improving the conditions of living of minorities
A very large number of people belonging to minority communities live in slums in urban areas, often ignored by the local government agencies. In rural areas, they are often amongst the poorest of the poor, not able to afford a proper house to live in.
(11) Equitable share in rural housing scheme
The Indira Awaas Yojana (IAY) provides financial assistance for shelter to the rural poor living below the poverty line. A certain percentage of the physical and financial targets under JAY will be earmarked for rural poor beneficiaries from minority communities.
(12) Improvement in condition of slums inhabited by minority communities
Under the National Slum Development Programme (NSDP), the Central Government provides assistance to States/UTs for development of urban slums through provision of physical amenities like water supply, storm water drains, widening and paving of existing lanes, sewers, community latrines, streetlights etc. The funds under NSDP can also be used for provision of community infrastructure and social amenities like pre-school education, adult education, maternal and child health etc. A certain percentage of the physical and financial targets under this programme will be earmarked for slums predominantly inhabited by the minority communities.
IV. Prevention and control of communal riots
Prevention and control of communal riots is a basic duty of the State. However, in the past decades, minority communities have suffered loss of lives and property on account of communal violence. The welfare of minority communities is inextricably linked with the effectiveness of measures adopted to address this issue.
(13) Prevention of communal incidents
In the areas which have been identified as communally sensitive and riot prone, District and Police Officials of the highest known efficiency, impartiality and secular record must be posted. In such areas, and even elsewhere, the prevention of communal tension should be one of the primary duties of the DM and the SP. Their performance in this regard should be an important factor in determining their promotion prospects.
(14) Prosecution for communal offences
Severe action should be taken against all those who incite communal tensions or take part in violence. Special court or courts specifically earmarked to try communal offences should be set up so that offenders are brought to book speedily.
(15) Rehabilitation of victims of communal riots
Victims of communal riots should be given immediate relief and provided prompt and adequate financial assistance for their rehabilitation.
