By TwoCircles.net News Desk,
New Delhi: If one goes by the statistics of the government, it seems the problems of the minorities in the country are fast decreasing as budgetary allocations for the Ministry of Minority Affairs for welfare schemes of minorities in the last two financial years have been consecutively revised down and actual expenditure was further low.
According to the information provided to the Lok Sabha in a written reply by Salman Khurshid, Minister for Minority Affairs, the budget estimates for the ministry for the year 2007-08 was Rs 500 crore which was revised down to Rs 350 crore. The actual expenditure was about half of the revised estimate i.e. Rs 196.65 crore.
Similarly the budget estimat for 2008-09 was Rs 1000 crore which was revised down to Rs 650 crore and in actual Rs 618.62 crore could be spent.
(Rupees in crores)
| Years | Budget Estimates | Revised Estimates | Expenditure (Actual) |
| 2006-07 | 0.98 | 130.89 | 119.50 |
| 2007-08 | 500.00 | 350.00 | 196.65 |
| 2008-09 | 1000.00 | 650.00 | 618.62 |
By the Notification No.1/11/93-MC(D) dated 23rd October, 1993 the Central Government notified five religious communities in the country, namely, Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists and Zoroastrians (Parsis) as minority communities. These communities are minority communities for the entire country, including tribal areas.