Know your Ministry - No. 41 - Minority Affairs

The Ministry of Minority Affairs was carved out of Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment and created on 29th January, 2006 to ensure a more focused approach towards issues relating to the notified minority communities namely Muslim, Christian, Buddhist, Sikhs, Parsis and Jain. The mandate of the Ministry includes formulation of overall policy and planning, coordination, evaluation and review of the regulatory framework and development programmes for the benefit of the minority communities. The Ministry has established a Vision to empower the minority communities and creating an enabling environment for strengthening the multi-racial, multi-ethnic, multi-cultural, multi-lingual and multi-religious character of our nation. It has put forth a Mission to improve the socio-economic conditions of the minority communities through affirmative action and inclusive development so that every citizen has equal opportunity to participate actively in building a vibrant nation and to facilitate an equitable share for minority communities in education, employment, economic activities and to ensure their upliftment. ASSOCIATED ORGANIZATIONS Constitutional and Statutory Bodies - Central Waqf Council (CWC), National Commission for Minorities (NCM), Commissioner for Linguistic Minorities(CLM) and Haj Committee of India (HCoI). Autonomous Bodies- Maulana Azad Education Foundation (MAEF). PSUs and Joint Ventures- National Minorities Development and Finance Corporation (NMDFC). Organizations under the Aegis of Ministry - Durgah Khwaja Saheb Ajmer and National Waqf Development Corporation Ltd.

(NAWADCO) SCHEMES – INITIATIVES TAKEN BY GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

Pradhan Mantri Jan VIkas Karyakram, Pre-Matric & Post Matric Scholarship Schemes, Free Coaching Scheme, Nai Roshni, Seekho Aur Kamao, Naya Savera, Nai Manzil, Nai Udhaan, Padho Pardesh, Jiyo Parsi, Upgrading the Skills and Training in Traditional Arts/Crafts U& Development (USTTAD), Hunar Haat, Hamari Dharohar, Qaumi Waqf Board Taraqqiati Scheme, Shahari Waqf Sampatti VIkas Yojana, Research, Monitoring and Publicity Schemes, Maulana Azad National Fellowship, Corpus funds to The Maulana Azad Education Foundation (MAEF) ACTS AND RULES Acts-Durgah Khawaja Saheb Act, 1955, National Commission for Minorities Act, Wakf Act, 1995 and Wakf(Amendment) Act, 2013 Rules- Central Wakf Council (Amendment) Rules 2014,Central Wakf Council (Amendment) Rules 2015,nWaqf Properties Lease (Amendment) Rules, 2020, Waqf Properties Lease (Amendment) Rules, 2015, Waqf Properties Lease Rules, 2014,Model Waqf Rules, 2016, Government Notifications and Statutory Rules related to NCM (330 KB) and Gazette Notification regarding appointment of member of the Central Waqf Council Committee (Dated: 04/02/2018)

The Ministry of Human Resource Development deals with matters among others relating to the following subjects:

• National Council for Promotion of Urdu Language (NCPUL).

 • Education of Minorities.

• National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions.

• Scheme for Providing Quality Education in Madrassas (SPQEM).

• Scheme for Infrastructure Development for Minority Institutes (IDMI).

• Scheme for Infrastructure Development in Private Aided/Unaided Minority Institutes (Elementary, Secondary/Senior Secondary School). • The Right of Children of Free and Compulsory Education Act,2009.

Subjects allocated to this Ministry as per Second Schedule to the Government of India (Allocation of Business) Rules, 1961 are:-

 Overall policy, planning, coordination, evaluation and review of the regulatory and developmental programmes of the minority communities.

• All matters relating to minority communities except matters relating to law and order.

• Policy initiatives for protection of minorities and their security in consultation with other Central Government Ministries and State Governments. • Matters relating to linguistic minorities and of the office of the Commissioner for Linguistic Minorities.

 • Matters relating to the National Commission for Minorities Act. • Work relating to the evacuee Wakf properties under the Administration of Evacuee Property Act, 1950 (31 of 1950) (since repealed). • Representation of the Anglo-Indian Community. • Protection and preservation of non-Muslim shrines in Pakistan and Muslim shrines in India in terms of the Pant-Mirza Agreement of 1955 and Questions relating to the minority communities in neighbouring Countries in consultation with the Ministy of External Affairs.

• Charities and Charitable Institutions, Charitable and religious Endowments pertaining to subjects dealt with in the Department.

• Matters pertaining to the socio-economic, cultural and educational status of minorities; minority organisations, including the Maulana Azad Education Foundation.

• The Wakf Act, 1995 and Central Wakf Council.

• The Durgah Khawaja Saheb Act, 1955.

• Funding of programmes and projects for the welfare of minorities, including the National Minorities Development and Finance Corporation

• Employment opportunities for minorities in the Central and State public sector undertakings, as also in the private sector.

• Formulation of measures relating to the protection of minorities and their security in consultation with other concerned Central Ministries and State Governments.

• National Commission for Socially and Economically Backward Sections among Religious and Linguistic Minorities.

• All matters relating to the Justice Sachar Committee.

• Prime Minister’s new 15-Point Programme for Minorities. • Any other issue pertaining to the minority communities.

• Management of Haj Pilgrimage, including administration of the Haj Committee Act, 1959 and the rules made thereunder.

REPORTS AVAILABLE IN PUBLIC DOMAIN

Annual Reports, Sachar Committee Report; Prime Minister’s New 15 Points Programme; Study conducted by NPC to find out reasons for high drop-out rates among Minority communities.; Evaluation of Prime Minister’s New 15 Point Programme for Welfare of Minorities Multi-sectoral; Impact Assessment of Multi-sectoral Development Programme (MsDP)- by Indian Institute of Public Administration, New Delhi; Evaluation and Impact Assessment of Pre Matric Scholarship Scheme - 2013;Evaluation and Impact Assessment of Post Matric Scholarship Scheme - 2013; Evaluation and Impact Assessment of Merit-cum-Means Scholarship Scheme - 2013;Report of Impact Evaluation Study of the Scheme of Development of Urban Waqf Properties; Report of Restructuring of Central Waqf Council; Report of Impact Evaluation of the Scheme “Strengthening of State Wakf Boards”;Outcome Review study of the Scheme of Computerization of the records of the State Wakf Boards; Research/Studies, Monitoring and Evaluation of Development Schemes including Publicity; Evaluation and impact assessment of "Scheme of Research/ Studies, monitoring and Evaluation of Development Schemes including Publicity"; Evaluation and Impact Assessment of Seekho aur Kamao (Learn & Earn) Scheme; Nai Roshni - The Leadership Development of Minority Women; Quick Evaluation Study on Nai Roshni - The Leadership Development of Minority Women Scheme; Final Report on Evaluation and Impact Assessment of Padho Pardesh Scheme; Final Report on Evaluation and Impact Assessment of "Naya Savera - Free Coaching and Allied" Scheme; National Commission for Religious and Linguistic Minorities; Monthly Summary of Important Developments for September, October & December 2018, ;Maulana Azad Education Foundation (MAEF); Committee on the Establishment of Educational Institutions for Educationally Backward Minorities - Report, May, 2017; National Minorities Development & Finance Corporation (NMDFC); Report on Socio-Economic Impact study of Beneficiaries Financed between 2014- 2016 and Functioning of SCAs; Report of the Expert Group on Diversity Index Complete Report and Report by the Expert Group to examine & determine the structure and functions of an Equal Opportunity Commission

ISSUES RELATED TO THE MINORITY COMMUNITY

• Issue of Identity: Because of the so-called differences in socio-cultural practices, history and backgrounds, minorities have to grapple with the issue of identity everywhere which give rise to the problem of adjustment with the majority community.
• Issue of Security: Different identity and their small number relative to the rest of the society develops feeling of so-called insecurity about their life, assets and well-being which often results in straining of when cordial relations between the majority and the minority communities in the society
•  Issue Relating to Equity: The minority community in a society may remain deprived of the benefit of opportunities of development as a result of discrimination and develops the perception of the sense of so-called inequity.
• The Indian socio-economic fabric is very complex because it is much affected by caste, religion and all the more regional/linguistic differentials which has been persistently challenges the secular concept duly guaranteed under the Preamble and the basic structure of our Indian Constitution.
• Persisting challenges and issues related to enactment of Uniform Civil Code(UCC)

WAY FORWARD – TASKS ON HAND FOR THE MINISTRY

• To set up a Committee to study for improving the monitoring methods of the implementation of the Government Initiates under various Schemes so that it reaches the correct beneficiaries.

• To initiate action plan for corrective or modifications of the Government Schemes for Minorities to cater to the specific needs of the Minority Community,

• To extensively undertake a Study on the reports of the Committees set up to evaluate the issues related to Education and Welfare of Minority Communities and take up for implementation immediately.

 • To set up a framework to address to the: (a) Problems those are common to all poor people,(b) Problems those are common to all minorities and (c) Problems those are specific to Muslims only.

• To restore the Trust and Faith of the Minority communities in terms of the Secular fabric of the Constitution and re-establish suitable.

• All the Problems of Prejudice and Discrimination, Separatism and Communal Tensions & Riots needs to eradicated in toto from the society through specific amendments in our constitution and strengthen the existing legislations accordingly.

• Action Plan to facilitate an equitable share for minority communities in education, employment, economic activities and to ensure their social upliftment at par with the Majority.

• Government needs to take up for extensive debate in the Parliament on the Law Commission set up to study the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) which would be applicable to all religious communities in matters such as marriage, divorce, inheritance, adoption. Government to analyse the objectives spelt under Article 44 under Directive Principles in the Indian Constitution

• To eliminate all discrimination against vulnerable groups and harmonise diverse cultural groups and establish Unity in Diversity.

• Across all political agendas and spelt out by political parties as a part of Election Manifesto a robust secular infrastructure under the existing legal framework should be established to empower the minority communities and creating an enabling environment for strengthening the multi-racial, multi-ethnic, multi-cultural, multi-lingual and multi-religious character of our nation.

• Ministry needs to educate and highlight all the Development and Welfare measures related to Minority communities in a big way in both Social and Main Stream Media to set-off ignorances.

• A National Agenda needs to be devised to improve the socio-economic conditions exclusively for the poor minority communities through affirmative action and inclusive development so that every citizen irrespective of his community has equal opportunity to participate actively in building a vibrant nation.