Equalisation of Educational Opportunities for Minorities: Area Intensive Programme for Educationally Backward Minorities was launched in May 1993. It seeks to provide basic infrastructure and facilities in areas of concentration of educationally backward minorities, which do not have adequate provision for elementary and secondary education ... The scheme covers 325 blocks and four districts (of Assam) spread over 13 States and three Union Territories.
Since the inception of the scheme, full/part grants have been given for the construction of buildings for 1502 primary/upper primary/secondary schools, 13 hostels, six residential higher secondary schools for girls and 1060 classrooms; upgradation of 38 primary schools to upper primary schools and high schools to higher secondary schools; construction of toilets in 106 schools and provision of teaching-learning material in 724 primary/ upper primary schools and provision of library books and furniture in 638 primary/upper primary/secondary schools.
... During 1998-99 Rs.13.52 crore were released ... The BE for the current financial year is Rs:15 crore out of whichRs.10 crore has been released to State Governments (as on 31 January, 2000).
Modernisation of Madrasa Education: ... Grants amounting to Rs.6,73,85,000 were released during 1998- 99. The BE for the current financial year is Rs.10 crore.
Incentive for Teaching/Study of Urdu
The scheme provides for appointment of Urdu teachers and incentive for teaching/learning of Urdu to augment educational facilities for girls ... The scheme is implemented in the minority concentration blocks/districts identified by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
Coaching Classes for Weaker Sections
Under this scheme, the University Grants Commission provides financial assistance to selected universities/colleges which organise appropriate coaching classes to train persons belonging to educationally backward minority communities to enable them to compete in various competitive examinations. 21 Universities and 57 Colleges have been brought under this scheme which includes ten coaching centres. The University Grants Commission has constituted a committee to effectively monitor the scheme and to review the working of these centres.
National Council for Promotion of Urdu Language
... The National Council for Promotion of Urdu Language (NCPUL) an autonomous body ... became functional w.e.f. 1 April, 1996. The NCPUL is engaged in preparation of academic literature in Urdu for the Urdu-speaking people of the country. Financial assistance is provided to 54 calligraphy training centres ... Out of the intended 12 volumes of Urdu Encyclopaedia, six volumes have been published and others are under compilation.
Five volumes of English-Urdu Dictionary have also been published.Another major achievement of the Council has been to coordinate the activities of various state Urdu Academies ... The Council has published 33 new titles besides 98 reprints during the year. Besides the publications which were discontinued in the past have been revived and are being published regularly.
... The Council has endeavoured to design a well-knit all-India network for coordination of Urdu promotional activities.
