Minority Pampering Doubled-From 500 Crore to 1000 Crore

New Delhi: The General Budget 2008-09 saw a steep rise in the allocation for the welfare schemes meant for the minorities.  Presenting the Budget in LokSabha today, the Finance Minister, Shri P. Chidambaram announced that the allocation for the Ministry of Minority Affairs would be increased from Rs. 500 crore in 2007-08 to Rs. 1,000 crore in 2008-09.  Apart from the schemes commenced in 2007-08, the following schemes/measures have been proposed to be implemented in 2008-09:

• A multi-sectoral development plan for each of the 90 minority concentration districts will be drawn up at a cost of Rs. 3,780 crore.  The allocation in 2008-09 will be Rs. 540 crore;
• A pre-matric scholarship scheme with an allocation of Rs. 80 crore next year;
• A provision of Rs. 45.45 crore has been made in 2008-09 for modernizing Madrassa education;                          
• 256 branches of public sector banks have been opened this year until December 2007 in districts with substantial minority population.  288 more will be opened by March 2008 and many more in 2008-09; and
• Continuing the exercise started this year, more candidates belonging to the minority communities will be recruited to the Central Para-Military Forces.

 

Responses