What has the Union Budget allocated to minorities?

Source: The post is based on the article “What has the Union Budget allocated to minorities?” published in The Hindu on 8th February 2023.

What is the News?

The Union Budget for 2023-24 came with a reduction of 38% in funds for the Ministry of Minority Affairs.

Which schemes might be impacted due to the reduction of funds for minorities’ welfare?

Impact on Education Schemes: The total allocation for minorities’ educational upliftment was slashed to around ₹1600 crore from around ₹2,500 crore last year.

-The education scheme for Madrasas suffered a whopping 93% cut in allocation. The scheme’s allocation is down to ₹10 crores from the ₹160 crores in the previous financial year.

Research schemes for minorities: The allocation for research schemes for minorities, including Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists and Parsis was reduced by a little more than 50%.

Pre-matric scholarships for minorities: The government also cut down the funds for pre-matric scholarships for minorities in the upcoming financial year.

Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram(PMJVK): The allocation for PMJVK also came down.

Note: The scheme aims to provide socio-economic infrastructure and elementary amenities in minority-concentrated areas. It was said to be a key part of the government’s Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas initiative.

Similar reduction is witnessed in a) Hamari Dharohar Scheme for conservation of minorities’ culture and heritage, b) Scheme for Leadership Development of Minority Women, c) Skill Development Initiative among minorities, d) Nai Manzil, an integrated educational and livelihood scheme, e) Upgrading the Skills and Training in Traditional Arts/Crafts for Development scheme (USTTAD), f) Padho Pardesh Scheme and Nai Udaan Scheme was grounded.

What are the reasons for the reduction of funds for Minorities?

The government said that schemes like Nai Udaan overlaps with other similar affirmative plans of the government. Recently, the Prime Minister demanded that nobody should be left behind in the nation’s progress. But the Budget failed to follow up his words with action.