Only 0.066% allocation in Union budget for 19.3% minorities: Minority rights group

By Mujahid Nafees* 

The budget of  Rs 48,20,512.08 crore for the year 2024-25 presented in Parliament by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman  suggests an increase of about 1% compared to last year, yet the allocation for the Ministry of Minority Affairs is only Rs 3,183.24 crore, which is approximately 0.0660% of the total budget. In the year 2021-22, the budget of the Ministry of Minority Affairs was Rs 4810.77 crore, followed by Rs 5020.50 crore proposed for 2022-23, and Rs 3097.6 crore proposed for 2023-24.

There has been a sharp reduction in Central allocations for minorities. As compared to last year,  following changes have been observed:

• Reduction of Rs 106.84 crore in Pre-Matric Scholarship Scheme, 
• Increase of Rs 80.38 crore in Post Matric Scheme, 
• Reduction of Rs 10.2 crores in Merit Cum Means Scheme, 
• Reduction of Rs 50.92 crore in Maulana Azad Fellowship Scheme, 
• Reduction of Rs 40 crore in Coaching Scheme, 
• Reduction of Rs 5.70 crore in Interest Subsidy, 
• Zero provision in UPSC Preparation Scheme,
• Rs 1 crore reduction in the budget of Qaumi Waqf Board Taraqqiyati Scheme, 
• Zero provision in Skill Development Initiative Scheme, 
• Zero provision in Nayi Manzil Scheme, 
• Zero provision in Minority Women Leadership Development Scheme, 
• Zero provision in Ustad Scheme, 
• Zero provision in Nayi Manzil Scheme, 0.00 provision in Hamari Dharohar Scheme, 
• Rs 40 crore reduction in PM Virasat Ka Samvardhan Scheme, 
• Zero provision in Central Share in National Minority Finance and Development Corporation, 
• Rs 8 crore reduction in Educational Scheme for Minorities and Madrasas, 
• Rs 1 crore reduction in the budget of National Minority Commission, 
• Rs 1 crore reduction in the budget of linguistic minorities, 
• Zero provision for Maulana Azad Foundation, 
• Rs 310.9 crore increase in PMJVK has been proposed.

The government appears to be focusing more on skill development sector, yet there is an allocation of only Rs 3 crore for this for minorities.

The above figures show that the government is discriminating against the minority community. The government does not want the minority community of India to progress on the path of development. 

The Minority Coordination Committee (MCC) considers this budget to be discriminatory and demands that at least Rs 1 lakh crore should be allocated in the Union Budget as per the population as a special provision to uplift the backward community.

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*Convener, Minority Coordination Committee