Context: 

The Centre has in the past few years discontinued two key educational schemes for religious minorities, and reduced the budgetary allocation for the Ministry of Minority Affairs by 38.3% from the previous year. 

• Niti Aayog released a policy document in 2017 calling for measures to improve the implementation of current programmes with reference to the significance of education for religious minorities in India. 

Associated Legislations/Committee:

• The Rajinder Sachar Committee was constituted to look into the social, economic and educational standing of the Muslims in India. 
• The Ministry of Minority Affairs was carved out of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment in January 2006 to “ensure a more focused approach” towards issues affecting the notified minorities, 
• Subsequently, the government revised its 15-point Programme for the Welfare of Minorities. 

Welfare Schemes for the Educational Empowerment of Minorities:

• Pre-Matric Scholarship Scheme: Initially covering classes 1 to 10, now only classes 9 and 10.
• Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme: Supports class 11 and above students, with increased funding this fiscal year.
• Merit-cum-Means based Scholarship Scheme: Aided professional and technical courses, underwent significant funding reduction.
• Maulana Azad National Fellowship (MANF): Provided financial assistance for research scholars but discontinued in 2022.
• Padho Pardesh: Discontinued interest subsidy scheme for higher education abroad.
• Begum Hazrat Mahal National Scholarship: Scholarship for meritorious girls discontinued.
• Naya Savera: Free Coaching and Allied scheme of 2013- 14, discontinued by the Centre, saying the New Education Policy 2020 does not support coaching programmes. 
• Nai Udaan: A programme that supported minority students preparing for the preliminary examinations conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), Staff Selection Commission (SSC) and State Public Service Commissions (SPSCs).
  • But in this ongoing financial year, no funds were allocated for this scheme.
• Scheme for Providing Education to Madrasas and Minorities (SPEMM): A centrally sponsored programme where funds are provided for payment of honorarium to madrasa teachers and in-service training to teachers at elementary and secondary levels.
  • But in this financial year, the scheme allocated 90% less finances than in 2022-23.
• Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram (PMJVK): It has provided infrastructure in identified minority concentration areas, including for education and skill development. 
  • Similar to the SPQEM, the budgetary allocation for the PMJVK reduced from Rs 1,650 crore last year to Rs 600 crore this year.

Challenges and Impact:

• Reduction in beneficiaries and funding has impacted the implementation of schemes, resulting in a widening gap in education and economic parameters.
  • More than Rs 2,500 crore were allocated for such schemes in 2022-23, but there was a massive underutilisation of funds even after the estimate was revised to Rs 1,584 crore.
• Poor coverage of beneficiaries and unchanged low unit costs remain hurdles in scheme implementation. Coverage has remained unchanged for about 15 years. 
• Worsening of Situation: Muslim students’ enrolment in higher education is lagging behind other communities, worsening the existing disparities.
  • Of the total 4.13 crore college students, less than 20 lakh Muslims are enrolled in higher education institutes as per the All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE), 2020-2021, conducted by the Ministry of Education.

The Path Ahead:

• Strengthen educational aid through enhancing scholarships, such as pre-matric, post-matric, merit-cum-means, and national overseas scholarships.
• Implement targeted schemes based on the 15-Point Programme to address development gaps in minority-concentrated localities.
• Make scholarships demand-driven and provide additional financial resources to improve unit costs.
• Increase the total budget allocation for the Ministry of Minority Affairs to address the deprivation in educational attainment for minorities.

News Source: The Hindu