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Minority Affairs | Minority rapport

May 27, 2022
Bharat Times

There are plenty of schemes for minorities, but implementing them is a different matter

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There are six communities in the care of the ministry of mino­rity affairs—Muslim, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain and Parsi. Tasked with their socio-economic uplift, it’s the nodal ministry for the implementation of the PM’s 15-point programme for minority welfare. The programme aims to achieve four broad objectives: enhancing opportunities for education, ensuring an equitable share in economic activities/ employment, improving living conditions and preventing communal disharmony and violence.

There are six communities in the care of the ministry of mino­rity affairs—Muslim, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain and Parsi. Tasked with their socio-economic uplift, it’s the nodal ministry for the implementation of the PM’s 15-point programme for minority welfare. The programme aims to achieve four broad objectives: enhancing opportunities for education, ensuring an equitable share in economic activities/ employment, improving living conditions and preventing communal disharmony and violence.

COVER STORY | The challenges ahead

In addition, the ministry implements the Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram, which aims to enhance social infrastructure in identified minority concentration areas. The ministry’s budget has seen an increase of 60 per cent, from Rs 3,130 crore in 2013-14 to Rs 5,020 crore in 2022-23. Critics say the allocation—0.15 per cent of the total budget for a ministry taking care of 19 per cent of India’s population—is too low. The government’s counter is that minorities also avail benefits under other welfare schemes.