Year End Review of The Ministry of Minority Affairs

Source: The post is based on the article “Year End Review of The Ministry of Minority Affairs” published in PIB on 18th December 2022

What is the News?

The Ministry of Minority Affairs has launched several initiatives and schemes in 2022.

What are the schemes and initiatives launched by the Ministry of Minority Affairs in 2022?

Scholarship Schemes: Ministry of Minority Affairs is implementing three scholarship schemes for the educational empowerment of students belonging to the notified minority communities: (i) pre-matric scholarship; (ii) post-matric scholarship; and (iii) merit–cum–means based scholarship.

To improve transparency in scholarship schemes, a new and revamped version of National scholarship Portal 2.0 was launched for various ministries of the Central Government including the Ministry of Minority Affairs for extending scholarships during 2016-17.

Pradhan Mantri Virasat Ka Samvardhan(PM VIKAS) Scheme

Seekho Aur Kamao(Learn and Earn): It is a placement-linked skill development scheme for minorities that was launched by the Ministry of Minority Affairs in 2013. It aims to upgrade the skills of minority youth (in the age group of 14-45 years) in various modern/ traditional skills.

– The scheme has now been converged as a component of the integrated PM VIKAS scheme.

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

Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram(PMJVK): It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme. It is being implemented by the Ministry of Minority Affairs with the objective to develop infrastructure projects, which are community assets, in the identified areas with development deficits for socio-economic development of the said areas.

National Commission for Minorities

Commissioner for Linguistic Minorities: The Office of the Commissioner for Linguistic Minorities(CLM) was established in 1957 in pursuance of the provision of Article 350-B of the Constitution. It envisages investigation by CLM of all matters relating to the safeguards provided for the linguistic minorities in the country under the Constitution and reporting to the President upon these matters at such intervals as the President may direct.

– The President may want that all such reports to be laid before each House of Parliament and sent to the government administration of states/UTs concerned. 

– Headquarters: Delhi with Zonal offices at Chennai and Kolkata. 

Central Waqf Council: It is a statutory body under the administrative control of the Ministry of Minority Affairs. It was set up in 1964 under the Waqf Act, 1954.

– Mandate: It is an advisory body to the Central Government on matters concerning the working of the Waqf Boards and the due administration of Auqaf in the country. 

The council can issue directives to the Boards to furnish information to the Council on the performance of the board, particularly on their financial performance, survey revenue records encroachment of Waqf properties and Annual and Audit report etc.

– Chairman: Union Minister of Minority Affairs is the ex-officio Chairperson.