15 Points Programme for Minorities Welfare Schemes

What is the News?

The Ministry of Minority Affairs is implementing the Prime Minister’s New 15 Point Programme for the welfare of Minority Communities. 

What is the PM 15 Point Programme for the welfare of Minority Communities?

It is an overarching programme covering various schemes/initiatives of the participating Ministries/Departments and is implemented throughout the country.

Aim of the Programme: To ensure that the underprivileged and weaker sections of six centrally notified minority communities have equal opportunities for availing of the various Government welfare Schemes.

To ensure that wherever possible, 15% of targets and outlays under various schemes should be earmarked for minorities. However, the schemes of the Ministry of Minority Affairs are exclusively meant for notified minorities.

Objectives of the Programme: The programme has the following broad objectives: a) Enhancing opportunities for education, b) Ensuring an equitable share for minorities in economic activities and employment, c) Improving the conditions of living of minorities by ensuring an appropriate share for them in infrastructure development schemes and d) Prevention and control of communal disharmony and violence.

Important Schemes under the Programme: 

Educational Empowerment

Maulana Azad National Fellowship Scheme: It provides financial assistance to students from notified minority communities, to pursue higher education such as M. Phil and Ph.D.

Naya Savera: It is a Free Coaching and Allied Scheme. The scheme aims to enhance the skills and knowledge of students and candidates from minority communities where the total annual family income is less than Rs. 6 lakh to get employment in the Government Sector, jobs in the private sector and admission in reputed institutions in technical and professional courses at undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

Economic Empowerment

Seekho aur Kamao (Learn & Earn): It is a skill development initiative for minorities and aims to upgrade the skills of minority youth in various modern/traditional skills depending upon their qualification.

Upgrading the Skill and Training in Traditional Arts/Crafts for Development (USTTAD)

Nai Manzil: It is a scheme to provide education and skill training to the youth from minority communities.

Gharib Nawaz Employment Training Programme: It is for providing short-term job oriented skill development courses to youths belonging to minority communities.

National Minorities Development Finance Corporation(NMDFC) Loan Schemes: It provides concessional loans for self-employment and income-generating activities for the socio-economic development of the ‘backward sections’ amongst the notified minorities.

Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram(PMJVK): It is implemented by the Ministry of Minority Affairs, which aims to improve the socio-economic conditions and basic amenities of minorities to improve their quality of life and reduce imbalances in the identified Minority Concentration Areas. 

Source: This post is based on the article “15 Points Programme for Minorities Welfare Schemes” published in PIB on 28th March 2022.