‘Prime Minister’s New 15 Point Programme for Welfare of
Minorities’.
http://ncm.nic.in/PM%27s_15_Point_Programme.html
(A) Enhancing opportunities for
Education.
(1) Equitable availability of ICDS Services
The integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme is aimed at holistic
development of children and pregnant/lactating mothers from disadvantaged
section, by providing services through Anganwadi Centres such as supplementary
nutrition , immunization, health check-up, referral services, pre-school and
non-formal education. A certain percentage of the ICDS projects and Anganwadi
Centres will be located in blocks/villages with a substantial population of
minority communities to ensure that he benefits of the scheme are equitable
available to such communities also.
(2) Improving access to School Education
Under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, the Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya Scheme,
and other similar Government schemes, it will be ensured that a certain
percentage of such school are located in villages/localities having a
substantial population of minority communities
(3) Greater resources for teaching Urdu
Central assistance will be provided for recruitment and posting of Urdu
language teachers in primary and upper primary schools that serve a population
in which at least one-fourth belong to that language group.
(4) Modernizing Madarsa Education
The Central Plan Scheme of Area Intensive and Madarsa Modernization Programm
provides basis educational infrastructure in areas of concentration of
educationally backward minorities and resources for the modernization of
Madarsa education. Keeping in view of importance of addressing this need, this
programme will be substantially strengthened and implemented effectively.
(5) Scholarships for meritorious students from minority communities
Schemes for pre-matric and post-matric scholarships for students from
minority communities will be formulated and implemented.
(6) Improving educational infrastructure through the Maulana Azad
Education Foundation.
The Government shall provide all possible assistance to Maulana Azad Educaion
Foundation (MAEF) to strengthen and enable it to expand its activities more
effectively.
(B) Equitable Share in Economic
Activities and Employment
(7) Self-Employment and Wage Employment for the poor
The Swarnjayanti Gram Swarojgar Yojna(SGSY), the primary self-employment
programme for rural areas, has the objective fo bringing assisted poor rural
families above the poverty line by providing them income generating assets
through a mix of bank credit and Governmental subsidy. A certain percentage of
the physical and financial targets under the SGSY will be earmarked for
beneficiaries belonging to the minority communities living below the poverty
line in rural areas.
The Swarnjayanti Shahary Rohgar Yojna(SSRY) consists of two major components
namely, the Urban Self-Employment Programme (USEP) and the Urban Wage
Employment Programme(UWEP). A certain percentage of the physical and financial
targets under USEP and UWEP will be earmarked to benefit people below the
poverty line from the minority communities.
The Sampurna Grameen Rozgar Yojna(SGRY) is aimed at providing additional
wage employment in rural areas alongside the creation of durable community,
social and economic infrastructure. Since the National Rural Employment
Guarantee Programm(NREGP) has been launched in 200 districts, and SGRY has been
merged with NREGP in these districts, in the remaining districts, a certain
percentage of the allocation under SGRY will be earmarked for beneficiaries
belonging to the minority communities living below the poverty line till these
districts are taken up under NREGP. Simultaneously, a certain percentage of the
allocation will be earmarked for the creation of infrastructure in such
villages, which have a substantial population of minorities.
(8) Upgradation of skill through technical training
A very large proportion of the population of minority communities is engaged in
low-level technical work or earns its living as handicraftsmen. Provision of
technical training to such people would upgrade their skills and earning
capability. Therefore, a certain proportion of all new ITIs will be located in
areas predominantly inhabited by minority communities and a proportion of
existing it is to be upgraded to ‘Centres of Excellence’ will be selected on
the same basis.
(9) Enhanced credit support for economic activities
The National Minorities Development & Finance Corporation (NMDFC) was set
up in 1994 with the objective of promoting economic development activities
among the minority communities. The Government is committed to strengthen the
NMDFC by providing it greater equity support to enable it to fully achieve its
objective.
Bank credit is essential for creation and sustenance of self-employment
initiative. A target of 40% of net bank credit for priority sector lending has
been fixed for domestic banks. The priority sector includes, inter alia,
agricultural loans, loan to small-scale industries & small business, loans
to retail trade, professional and self-employed persons, education loans,
housing loans and micro-credit. It will be ensured that an appropriate
percentage of the priority sector lending in all categories is targeted for the
minority communities.
(10) Recruitment to State and Central Services
In the recruitment of police personnel, State Governments will be advised to
give special consideration to minorities. For this purpose, the composition of
selection committees should be representative.
The Central Government will take similar action in the recruitment of personnel
to the Central police forces.
Large scale employment opportunities are provided by the Railways, nationalized
banks and public sector enterprises. In these cases also, the concerned
departments will ensure that special consideration is given to recruitment from
minority communities.
An exclusive scheme will be launched for candidates belonging to minority
communities to provide coaching in Government institutions as well as private
coaching institutes with credibility.
(C) Improving the conditions of living
of minorities.
(11) Equitable share in rural housing scheme
The Indira Awaas Yojna(IAY) provides financial assistance for shelter to the
rural poor living below the poverty line. A certain percentage of the physical
and financial targets under IAY will be earmarked for poor beneficiaries from
minority communities living in rural areas.
(12) Improvement in condition of slums inhabited by minority
communities.
Under the schemes of Integrated Housing & Slum Development Programme(IHSDP)
and Jawaharlal Nahru Urban Renewal Mission(JNURM), the Central Government
provides assistance to States/UTs for development of urban slums through
provision of physical amenities and basic services. It would be ensured that
the benefits of these programmes flow equitable to members of the minority
communities and to cities/slums, predominantly inhabited by minority
communities.
(D) Prevention & Control of Communal
Riots
(13) Prevention of communal incidents
In the areas, which have been identified as communally sensitive and riot prone
districts and police officials of the highest known efficiency, impartiality
and secular record must be posted. In such areas and even elsewhere, the
prevention of communal tension should be one of the primary duties of the
district magistrate and superintendent of police. Their performance in this
regard should be an important factor in determining their promotion prospects.
(14) Prosecution for communal offences
Severe action should be taken against all those who incite communal tension or take
part in violence. Special court or courts specifically earmarked to try
communal offences should be set up so that offenders are brought to book
speedily.
(15) Rehabilitation of victims of communal riots
.
Victims of communal riots should be given immediate relief and provided prompt
and adequate financial assistance for their rehabilitation.
