NEW DELHI: The Government has been implementing various minority education schemes especially for Muslims. A total of 15% of the outlay under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan is targeted for the Minority Concentration Districts (MCD)/Areas to achieve the goal of universalisation of elementary education, to meet infrastructure gaps for schools, classrooms, teachers and providing access by opening new schools. Other initiatives which also benefit minorities and Muslims include the Scheme for Providing Quality Education in Madarsas (SPQEM), the Scheme of Infrastructure Development in Minority Institutions (IDMI), the Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya Scheme (JNV), setting up of Girls Hostels, Model Schools under the Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA), the Mid-Day-Meal Scheme, Jan Shikshan Sansthan (JSS), establishment of the Model Degree Colleges, Women Hostels and Polytechnics in the Minority Concentration Districts. Setting up of Block Institutes of Teacher Education, Appointment of Language Teachers, providing modern education to Madarasas under National Institute of Open Schooling and the easing of norms for affiliation of Minority Educational Institutions, are some of the important initiatives undertaken by the Government.
The achievements made under the affirmative interventions under various schemes for promotion of education of the minorities have been quite encouraging. Trends indicate consistent increase in the enrolment of Muslim children at the elementary level. The enrolment of Muslim children at Primary level as a percentage of total enrolment has increased from 9.4% in 2006-07 to 14.2% in 2012-13, and at the Upper Primary level, the enrolment has increased from 7.2% to 12.1% during the same period. This has induced the Govt. to further intensify its continued efforts for the promotion of education of the minorities, especially of Muslims.
The University Grants Commission is implementing the following schemes for minority communities in Central Universities during XI and XII Plan:-
i) Centre for Professional Development of Urdu Medium Teachers in three central universities.
ii) Establishment of Residential Coaching Academy for Minorities, SC/ST and Women in four Central Universities and one in Deemed University.
iii) Establishment of Satellite Campus for undergraduate, Postgraduate, Programmes in Arabic and Persian.
iv) Establishment of two Campuses of Aligarh Muslim University.
v) Establishment of Model School, Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs), B.Ed. Colleges, Polytechnics under the ambit of Maulana Azad National Urdu University.
vi) Since 2009, the UGC has been implementing the scheme of Maulana Azad National Fellowship for Minority Students which is being funded by Ministry of Minority Affairs, Govt. of India. Under this scheme, the UGC provides financial assistance to selected candidates belonging to minority communities for pursuing M.Phil./Ph.D. research in University/College/Institution and Non-Institutions in the country.
The other schemes of UGC from which Minorities can benefit are:-
(i) Remedial Coaching For SC/ST/OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) and Minority Community Students
(ii) Coaching For NET/SET for SC/ST/OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) &Minority Community Students
(iii) Coaching Classes for Entry into Services for SC/ST/OBC (Non Creamy Layer) and Minority Community Students
(iv) Coaching Scheme for Residential Academies for Minorities/SC/ST and Women.
In all the Scholarship/Fellowship Schemes, 30% of the physical targets are earmarked for girl students. The annual physical targets for fresh scholarships/ fellowships are distributed State/UT-wise and Community-wise on the basis of their minority community population as per 2001 census. These are Central Sector Schemes with 100% Central funding.
The Department of Financial Services has provided the list of Minority Concentration Districts to all the Scheduled/Commercial Banks who have been asked to ensure that the minority communities receive a fair and equitable portion of credit within the overall target of the priority sector. Pursuant to the Cabinet decision in June, 2007, the Public Sector Banks have been advised by the Government to step up their Minority Community Lending (MCL) to 15% of their Priority Sector Lending (PSL). Loans to individuals for educational purposes including vocational courses upto Rs.10.00 lakh for studies in India and Rs.20.00 lakh for studies abroad are covered under Priority Sector lending. Thus, minority community students are benefitted from the provisions of 15% of PSL to Minority Communities.
This information was given by the Union Human Resource Development Minister, Smt. Smriti Irani in a written reply to the Lok Sabha question.