GOVERNMENT
Welfare Programme for Minorities
Relevant Extracts from Ministry of Welfare's Annual Report, 1996-97
Welfare of Minorities
Ministry of Welfare set up an apex financial corporation, namely, National Minorities Development and Finance Corporation (NMDFC) with an authorised capital of Rs. 500 crores for providing concessional finance to eligible minority beneficiaries for setting up self-employment ventures. Government of India's contribution to the equity capital of NMDFC is restricted to 25% of the paid-up share capital. The balance will be held by the State Governments/Corporations and individuals. During VIII Plan Rs. 125 crores have been allocated to the Corporation. By the end of January, 1997, the Corporation disbursed Rs. 51.36 crores as loan which will cover 17893 beneficiaries.
Ministry of Welfare has been operating a scheme of Pre-Examination Coaching for weaker sections among minorities and other backward classes to enable them to compete on equal terms with other candidates in competitive examinations for various jobs. The Scheme is being implemented through institutions of repute. Rs. 10.00 crore has been earmarked during VIIIth Five-Year Plan for this purpose. Since its inception in 1992-93, the Scheme was covered 173 institutions where 8860 candidates have been coached for various competitive examinations.The details of grants released during 1996-97 are at given below:
S.No. Voluntary Organisations (Rs. in lakhs) Released
1. All India Women's Studies and Development Organisation, Kanpur 1.33
2. A.P. Study Circle for Backward Classes, Guntur 3.32
3. Hamdard Study Circle, New Delhi 8.51
4. L.C. Institute of Social and Applied Sciences, Bhubaneswar 1.44
National Commission for Minorities
The National Commission for Minorities has been reconstituted w.e.f. 26.11.1996 and Prof. (Dr.) Tahir Mahmood and Professor Bawa Singh have assumed charges as Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson of the Commission, respectively. The Commission has been sanctioned and outlay of Rs. 1.60 crores for 1996-97.
While the erstwhile Minorities Commission has submitted 13 Annual Reports, its 14th Report has been submitted by the statutory commission in February, 1995. The first 11 reports along with action taken memorandum have been laid before Parliament so far.
The National Commissioner for Linguistic Minorities
Commission for Minorities has submitted its 1st and 2nd Reports recently The Commissioner for Linguistic Minorities submits Annual Report to the President of India. The Commissioner has so far submitted 32 Annual Reports, all of them have been tabled in Parliament.
The organisation of the Commissioner for Linguistic Minorities has its headquarters at Allahabad with Regional Offices at Calcutta, Belgaum and Madras Dr. Harbhajan Singh Deol has been appointed as Commissioner for Linguistic Minorities on 7.10.1996.
The office of the Commissioner for Linguistic Minorities has been provided a budget allocation of Rs.40.00 lakhs for 1996-97.
Multi Sector Development Plan
In pursuance of the strategy of area-based approach for tackling the problems of minorities, the scheme of multi-sectoral development plans has been launched during 1995-96 in 41 minority concentration districts. Under this scheme, the concerned States are required to undertake surveys and prepared project reports through an expert agency in respect of activities conspicuously perused by the Minorities in these districts with a view to identify the requirements of credit, marketing, training, technological support etc. An amount of Rs. 41 lakhs have already been disbursed during 1995-96 to 11 States. For 1996-97, an amount of Rs.50.00 lakhs have been allocated for the scheme.
Wakf Administration
So far 5 State Governments viz., Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Meghalaya, West Bengal and Madhya Pradesh have constituted the Wakf Boards under the new law. Central Wakf Council With the enforcement of the new Wakf Law, the Central Wakf Council constituted under the provisions of the earlier Wakf Act 1954, stands dissolved. A new Council consisting of 20 Members is being re-constituted.
Development of Urban Wakf Properties
The budgetary provision for the grant-in-aid to the Central Wakf Council for the year 1996-97 is Rs. 125.00 lakhs. The entire grant has since been released to the council up to 31st December, 1996.
Punjab Wakf Board
Shri A.A. Siddiqui, an IPS Officer of Punjab Cadre, has been appointed as the new Administrator of the Board with effect from the 18th October, 1996.
Maulana Azad Education Foundation
The Maulana Azad Education Foundation has been set up as a society with the specific purpose of promoting education amongst the educationally backward section of the society in general and minorities in particular. During the year 1992-93 the Foundation was given a; grant-in-aid of Rs. 5 crores Ly the Government for building up a "corpus". The Government has released an additional amount of Rs. 25.01 crores as grant-in-aid to the Foundation during 1994-95 ... Upto January, 1997 the Foundation sanctioned a total grant-in-aid of Rs. 6,02 crores to 51 NGOs out of which Rs. 2.57 crores were released to 49 NGOs for the purpose of establishing residential schools for girls, construction of laboratory buildings, establishment of Computer Centre/Typing Centre for women etc.
Durgah Khwaja Saheb Act, 1955 - The Managing Committee appointed by the Central Government known as "Durgah Committee" is assisted by an officer known as Nazira appointed by the Central Government.
