Minority measures range from scholarships to aid hike

In keeping with the UPA government’s pro-minority stance, Finance Minister P Chidambaram has announced a slew of measures for minority communities in the Budget. The measures range from special scholarships for students to an increase in Central assistance for the National Minority Development and Finance Corporation.

‘‘I propose to extend greater financial support for the organisations actively involved in the welfare of minorities,’’ Chidambaram said in his Budget speech. And that includes 20,000 merit-cum-means scholarships for students to encourage them to pursue higher education, much in consonance with the government’s initative to improve the socio-economic and educational status of the minority communities. However, the scholarship amount or the overall allocation was not specified. Once the scheme is finalised in 2006-07, the Finance Minister said he intended allocating the necessary funds.

As part of the same policy, he proposed to double the corpus fund of the Maulana Azad Educational Foundation to Rs 200 crore and increase the Central allocation to the National Council for Promotion of Urdu Language from Rs 10 crore to Rs 13 crore. To strengthen the National Minorities Development and Finance Corporation, his Budget carried proposals of Rs 16.47 crore.

‘‘In line with the PM’s announcement on August 15, 2005, the Corporation will intensify efforts to reach out to artisans and weavers living in urban and peri-urban centres, especially in districts with concentration of minorities,’’ Chidambaram said.