By Andalib Akhter, TwoCircles.net
New Delhi: Major chunk of budgetary allocation for minorities for 2009-10 would go for Multi-Sectoral Development Programme for Minorities in selected minority concentration districts. A total amount of Rs. 889.50 crore has been earmarked for the purpose for the current financial year.
In his budgetary allocation, Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukheji has also emphasized on the need of upgradation of all type of education including Madrasa education for the minority community.
The budgetary allocation for pre-matric scholarship for the minorities has been more than doubled. The amount for the purpose for the current financial year has been increased from Rs. 72 crore in 2008-9 to Rs. 180 crore. For post-matric scholarship Rs. 135 crore has been allotted for current financial year. The amount for the purpose in the year 2008-9 was merely 63 crore.
For the first time 13.50 crore has also been earmarked for the national fellowship for student from minority community. This entire amount would be disbursed through the Union Ministry of Minority Affairs.
Also for the first time an amount of 45 crore has been earmarked for the Scheme for Providing Quality Education in Madarsa (SPQEM) for the year 2009-2010. Another 4.50 crore has been allocated for the Scheme for Infrastructure Development in Minority Institution (IDMI). These amounts would spent through the Ministry of Human Resources Development.
A revised scheme for bringing quality improvement for Madarsa and enable children to attain standard of the national education system in formal education subject have been approved. Area intensive and Madrasas Modernization programme have been revised as the scheme for Infrastructure Development in the Minority Institution (IDMI). The revised scheme has already been approved.
Grants-in-aid to Maulana Azad Education Foundation has also been doubled, so as for the provisions for National Minorities Development and Finance Corporation. Grants-in-aid to Central Wakf council for computerization of records of State Wakf Boards have also been approved.
Mr. Mukherjee also announced a sum of Rs 25 crore each for the two campuses of the Aligarh Muslim University that are to be established at Murshidabad in West Bengal and Malappuram in Kerala. The West Bengal government has already allotted the land for the purpose.