Government Schemes of Ministry of Minority Affairs

The important schemes of Ministry of Minority Affairs are as follows:

Scholarship and Interest Subsidies

The ministry provides both Pre-matric and post metric scholarship for students, Merit-cum-means scholarships for professional & technical courses, free coaching, financial support for students clearing Prelims conducted by UPSC, SSC, State Public Service Commission’s etc. and Interest subsidy on Educational Loans for Overseas studies

Maulana Azad National Fellowship for Minority Students

This scheme provides fellowships in the form of financial assistance to students belonging to Minority Communities to pursue higher studies at M. Phil and Ph.D level. The scheme covers all Universities/Institutions recognized by the University Grants Commission (UGC).

Seekho aur Kamao

The objective of the scheme is to allow urban and rural livelihoods to improve for inclusive growth by providing skill to the minority communities who do not possess any skill. For those who already possess skills, the Scheme proposes to upgrade the same to enhance their employment opportunities and also provide credentials to allow such persons to gain access to credit to help them expand their enterprises.

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

To conserve traditional arts/crafts of our Country and for building capacity of traditional artisans and craftsmen belonging to minority communities, a scheme namely USTTAD (Upgrading the Skills and Training in Traditional Arts/Crafts for Development) has been approved. This scheme on one hand will conserve the rich heritage of the country and on the other hand it will establish linkages with National and International market and ensure dignity of labour.

Nai Manzil

Main objectives of the scheme are:

• To engage constructively with the poor Minority youth and help them to obtain sustainable and gainful employment opportunities that can facilitate them to be integrated with mainstream economic activities.
• To mobilize youth from minority communities who are school dropouts and provide them formal education and certification upto 8th or 10th class through National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) or other state govt. open schooling.
• To provide integrated Skill training to the youth in market driven skills
• To provide placements at least 70% of the trained youth in jobs which would earn them basic minimum wages and provide them other social protection entitlements like Provident Funds and ESI etc.
• To raise awareness and sensitization in health and life skills.

Scheme for Leadership development of minority Women

To ensure that the benefits of growth reach deprived women, such women are being provided with, leadership training and skill development so that they are emboldened to move out of the confines of their homes and community and begin to assume a leadership role in accessing services, skills and opportunities available to them under various programmes and schemes.

Hamari Dharohar

Hamari Dharohar scheme is proposed to preserve rich heritage of minority communities of India under the overall concept of Indian culture.

Grants-in-aid to Maulana Azad Education Foundation

Maulana Azad Education Foundation (MAEF) is a voluntary, non-political, non-profit making, social service organization established to promote education among the educationally backward minorities. Interest on the investment of Corpus Fund given by the Government of India, is the only source of income for the Foundation. The schemes of the Foundation are for expansion and Upgradation of existing institutions and for improvement in the educational status of backward minorities.

Development of Minorities: Multi Sectoral Development Programme for Minorities (MSDP)

This is a special area development programme. The objective of the multi-sectoral development programme is to address the development deficits in the selected minority concentration blocks/towns/clusters of villages having a substantial minority population which are relatively backward.