Government’s Budget Slash Hurts Ministry of Minority Affairs, Threatens Community Welfare

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In the Union Budget 2024, the Ministry of Minority Affairs has been allocated Rs. 3,183.24 crore, which is about 0.0660% of the total budget. This allocation has decreased from previous years. The budget for the Ministry was Rs. 4,810.77 crore in 2021-22, increased to Rs. 5,020.50 crore in 2022-23, and was Rs. 3,097.60 crore in 2023-24

Key Concerns and Reductions:

Pre Matric Scholarship Scheme:

• Reduced by Rs. 106.84 crore.

Post-Matric Scheme:

• Increased by Rs. 80.38 crore.

Merit-cum-Means Scheme:

• Cut by Rs. 10.2 crore.

Maulana Azad Fellowship Scheme:

• Reduced by Rs. 50.92 crore.

Coaching Scheme:

• Cut by Rs. 40 crore.

Interest Subsidy:

• Reduced by Rs. 5.70 crore.

UPSC Preparation Scheme:

• No budget provision.

Qaumi Waqf Board Taraqqiyati Scheme:

• Reduced by Rs. 1 crore.

Other Schemes with No Provisions:

• Skill Development Initiative Scheme
• Nayi Manzil Scheme
• Minority Women Leadership Development Scheme
• Ustad Scheme
• Hamari Dharohar Scheme

Additional Budget Cuts:

PM Virasat Ka Samvardhan Scheme:

• Cut by Rs. 40 crore.

National Minority Finance and Development Corporation:

• No budget provision for Central Share.

Educational Scheme for Minorities and Madrasas:

• Reduced by Rs. 8 crore.

National Minority Commission:

• Budget reduced by Rs. 1 crore

Linguistic Minorities:

• Budget reduced by Rs. 1 crore.

Maulana Azad Foundation:

• No budget provision.

Criticism and Demand:

Mujahid Nafees, convener of the Minority Coordination Committee (MCC), expressed disappointment with the 2024-25 budget allocation for the Ministry of Minority Affairs. He claimed that the government is discriminating against the minority community and hindering their progress. Nafees demanded that at least Rs. 1 lakh crore should be allocated in the Union Budget to uplift the backward community as a special provision