It is a fact that several minority welfare schemes have been started by Government for the welfare of youth of minority community in the recent past. The new schemes started during 2013-14 for the welfare of minority youth include -
- Skill Development Programmes: Ministry of Minority Affairs has launched “Seekho aur Kamao (Learn and Earn)”, a new 100% Central Sector Scheme for Skill Development of minorities. The scheme aims at upgrading the skills of the minority youths in various modern/traditional vocations depending upon their educational qualification, present economic trends and the market potential, which can earn them a suitable employment or make them suitably skilled to go for self employment.
The scheme puts a condition on project implementing agencies (PIAs) to ensure minimum 75% employment of trained youths, out of which 50% should be in organized sector. The target for 2013-14 is to skill 7,500 beneficiaries with an allocation of Rs. 17 crore.
A pilot project for 500 minority youths has already been launched in collaboration with IL&FS Skill Development Corporation at 5 (five) locations namely, Delhi, Kolkata (West Bengal), Bengaluru (Karnataka), Barnala (Punjab) and Shillong (Meghalaya).
Ministry has already taken action for empanelment of PIAs. NMDFC has also signedan Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Maruti Suzuki India Limited (MSIL) on imparting “Driver’s Training to youths belonging to Minority Communities”. The drivers training programme has already been launched in Karnataka during November 2013.
Further, Multi-sectoral Development Plan (MsDP) has also been restructured to the effect that at least 10% of the allocation given to theStates, would be earmarked for the skill training related activities of minority youth. The target is to skill 60,000 beneficiaries with an allocation of Rs. 125crore. During 2013-14, project proposals of Rs. 22.98 crore for skill trainings of 17876 persons have been approved.
- Padho Pardes, the scheme of interest subsidy on educational loans for overseas studies for minority students: The objective of the scheme is to award interest subsidy to meritorious students of economically weaker sections of minority communities so as to provide them better opportunities for higher education abroad and enhance their employability.
The subsidy is granted on the interest payable for the moratorium period of education loans for overseas studies to pursue approved courses of studies at Masters, M. Phil and Ph.D levels. The scheme is linked with the Educational Loan scheme of Indian Banks Association (IBA).
Total family income from all sources of the eligible candidate shall not exceed Rs. 6.00lakh per annum. Scheme has been formulated and Expression of Interest (EOI) has been invited from 8 Nationalized Banks to act as nodel bank, through Limited Tender.
- New Component under Coaching & Allied Scheme – During 2013-14, a new component under this scheme has been added on pilot basis for focused preparation of minority students at class XI and XII with Science stream. The rate of financial support for a selected student under this component is uptoRs.1,00,000/- (one lakh) per annum.
Three Institutes have been selected one each from Maharashtra, Karnataka and West Bengal.
- Scheme for Support for Minority Students clearing Prelims conducted by Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), Staff Selection Commission (SSC), State Public Service Commissions etc. - The objective of the Scheme is to provide financial support to the minority candidates clearing Preliminary examinations conducted by UPSC, SSC and State Public Service Commissions to adequately equip them to compete for selection in Civil Services in the Union and State Governments and to increase representation of the minorities in these services.
Financial support is given to candidates clearing Preliminary examinations of Group A and B (Gazetted and non-Gazetted posts).
The rate of financial assistance is Rs. 50,000/- for Gazetted post and Rs. 25,000/- for non-Gazetted post, for minority candidates having family income not exceeding Rs. 4.50 lakh per annum. Applications from eligible candidates have already been invited.
This was stated by Shri Ninong Ering, the Minister of State in the Ministry of Minority Affairs in response to a written question in Rajya Sabha today.
