Centre allocates over Rs 100 cr for minority zones
Unfazed by the BJP's criticism over its welfare schemes for Muslims, the Congress-led Central Government has allocated over Rs 100 crore for development programmes in select districts with a sizeable population of minorities.
By PTI |
NEW DELHI: Unfazed by the BJP's criticism over its welfare schemes for Muslims, the Congress-led Central Government has allocated over Rs 100 crore for development programmes in select districts with a sizeable population of minorities.
In its budget proposals for 2007-08, the government has set aside Rs 108 crore for a multi-sectoral programme aimed at bridging development gaps in socio-economic conditions and availability of basic facilities in identified districts.
Also, it has allocated Rs 90 crore for post-matric and Rs 1.08 crore for pre-matric scholarships for students belonging to minority communities. Budget allocations for the one-year-old Minority Affairs Ministry have been increased almost four-fold, from its revised plan of 143.52 crore in the current fiscal to Rs 512.83 crore for 2007-08.
The budget allocation under the grants-in-aid header for the Maulana Azad Education Foundation (MAEF) has, however been halved from Rs 100 crore to Rs 50 crore. The MAEF is a voluntary, non-political, non-profit making social service organisation that aims to provide education to disadvantaged sections of minorities.
Merit-cum-means scholarships for students from minority groups in postgraduate and undergraduate professional and technical courses have, however, been allocated Rs 48.60 crore this time as against Rs 10 crore in the current fiscal.
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The government has also earmarked Rs nine crore as grants-in-aid to state channelising agencies involved in the execution of programmes under the National Minorities Development and Finance Corporation (NMDFC).Download
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