Context

• Highlighting the significance of education for religious minorities in India, Niti Aayog released a policy document in 2017 calling for measures to improve the implementation of current programmes. 
• However, in the past five years, centre has discontinued, narrowed the scope and gradually cut down on the expenditure incurred on multiple programmes of the Ministry of Minority Affairs. 

Reason Behind the Introduction of Scholarships for Religious Minorities

• 20% Population Belong to Minority Communities
  • India is home to over 30 crore (20%) people from religious minority communities.These include six religions notified under the National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992.
  • Muslims constitute 14.2%, followed by Christians at 2.3%, Sikhs (1.7%), Buddhists (0.7%), Jains (0.4%) and Zoroastrians (around 57,000).
• Socio-Economic Challenges Faced by Minorities Especially Muslim Community
  • Muslims make up the largest religious minority but face challenges in economic, health, and education.
  • Their participation in salaried jobs is low. Many are engaged in the informal sector, characterised by low wages, weak social security, and poor working conditions.
• Sachar Committee’s Conclusions on the Socio-economic, educational status of the Muslims in India
  • Tabled in Parliament in 2006, the report concluded that the minority was deprived and neglected and behind the mainstream in several social and economic sectors.
  • According to the report, by and large, Muslims rank somewhat above SC/ST but below Hindu OBCs [Other Backward Classes], Other Minorities and Hindu General [mostly upper castes] in almost all indicators considered.

The Creation of Ministry of Minority Affairs (MoMA)

• The new Ministry was carved out of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment in 2006 to ensure a more focused approach towards issues affecting the notified minorities.
• The primary focus was on educational-economic empowerment, infrastructure development and special needs.
• The Ministry’s mandate included formulation of policy and planning, coordination, evaluation and review of the regulatory framework and development programmes for the benefit of the minority communities.
• Subsequently, the government revised its 15-point programme for the Welfare of Minorities.
• As part of educational empowerment, the new plan included a provision for scholarships for students from minority communities.

Welfare Schemes for the Educational Empowerment of Minorities and their Status

• Pre-Matric Scholarship Scheme
  • One of the first central sector programmes implemented by the MoMA, the pre-matric scholarship was initially awarded to minority students from class 1 to 10.30% of the scholarships were earmarked for girls.
  • The scheme has been discontinued from classes 1 to 8, as the Right to Education Act (RTE Act) covered compulsory education up to class 8 for all students.
• Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme
  • The programme was for students of class 11 and above (till Ph.D.). It aimed to give minority students access to quality higher education, with a scholarship ranging between Rs 2,300 and Rs 15,000.
  • The funds for the post-matric scheme increased from Rs 515 crore to Rs 1,065 crore this fiscal year.
• Merit-cum-Means based Scholarship Scheme
  • Launched in 2008, this scheme targeted professional and technical courses at undergraduate and post-graduate levels, with 30% earmarked for girl students.
  • The scholarship scheme saw a major reduction in funds in 2023-24, with a dip of Rs 321 crore in spending over last year.
• Maulana Azad National Fellowship (MANF) 
  • The MANF provided financial assistance for five years to research scholars pursuing M.Phil and Ph.D. from institutions recognised by the University Grants Commission (UGC).
  • The MANF benefitted over 6,700 candidates between 2014-15 and 2021-22, with Rs 738.85 crore paid before it was cancelled in 2022.
• PadhoPardesh
  • The scheme provided an interest subsidy on education loans for overseas studies to students belonging to economically weaker sections of minority communities.
  • The interest subsidy scheme was discontinued from 2022-23andbenefitted 20,365 beneficiaries since its inception (as part of the 15-point programme) in 2006.
• Begum Hazrat Mahal National Scholarship
  • The scholarship was for meritorious girls for higher secondary education and was provided by the Maulana Azad Education Foundation (MAEF).
  • The scholarship had zero allocation this year.
• Naya Savera
  • Naya Savera providedfree coaching to minority students for entrance to technical and professional courses and competitive examinations.
  • The Naya Savera - Free Coaching and Allied scheme added a new component in 2013- 14 which focused on students of classes 11-12 with science subjects.
  • The Centre discontinued the scheme earlier this year, saying the New Education Policy 2020 does not support coaching programmes.
• Nai Udaan
  • This scheme supported minority students preparing for the preliminary examinations conducted by the UPSC, SSC and State PSCs.
  • No funds were allocated for the Nai Udaan scheme in the ongoing financial year.
• Scheme for Providing Education to Madarsas and Minorities (SPEMM)
  • The scheme supported Quality Education in Madrasas, under which recognised madrasas receive financial assistance to introduce ‘modern’ subjects.
  • The scheme was allocated Rs 10 crore for the financial year 2023-24 more than 90% less than the allocation in 2022-23, which was ₹160 crore.
• Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram (PMJVK)
  • The PMJVKwas earlier known as the Multi-sectoral Development Programme (MsDP).
  • It has provided infrastructure in identified minority concentration areas, including for education and skill development.
  • The budgetary allocation for the PMJVK reduced from Rs 1,650 crore last year to Rs 600 crore this year.

The Need for Strengthening the Educational Aid

• To Improve the Socio-Economic Status of Religious Minorities: The Niti Aayog in its Strategy Document-2018 says that affirmative actions are needed to improve the socio-economic status of Muslim community, as they lag behind the rest in several areas.
• To Improve the Enrolment of Muslim Community
  • There is a significant disparity in education accessibility between Muslims and the general population, with Muslim representation in total enrolment declining as one moves to higher levels of education
  • The highest proportion of out-of-school children in the country belong to Muslim communities (4.43%), followed by Hindus (2.73%), Christians (1.52%) and others (1.26%), according to the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan data.
  • As per the All-India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) 2020-2021,of the total 4.13 crore college students, less than 20 lakh Muslims are enrolled in higher education
  • The survey also revealed a divide between the North and South regions in terms of minority representation, with Kerala and Telangana showing an increase in Muslim student enrolment, while UP and J&K had the lowest numbers. 

Way Forward

• Enhance Scholarships
  • In its 2018 policy document, Niti Aayog suggested enhancing pre-matric, post-matric and merit-cum-means scholarships as well as the Maulana Azad National Fellowships and national overseas scholarships
  • The policy document recommended a 15% annual increase from 2019-20. It also recommended increasing the number of scholarships for girls from minority communities by 10% every year.
• Proper Utilisation of the 15-Point Programme: To devise customised interventions for the development of minorities, by identifying development gaps in minority-concentrated localities and areas.

Conclusion

• In recent times, the restructuring of programmes, under-utilisation of funds, and reduced budgetary allocations have impacted the implementation and goals of educational schemes for minorities.
• Millions of students have benefited from the scholarship programmes of the MoMA. Therefore, the decision to discontinue the scholarships is especially concerning the Muslim students.