**Summary:**
On July 24, 2025, the 3rd Empowered Committee (EC) Meeting for the Pradhan Mantri Virasat Ka Samvardhan (PM VIKAS) scheme was held in New Delhi, chaired by Dr. Chandra Shekhar Kumar, Secretary, Ministry of Minority Affairs. PM VIKAS is a Central Sector Scheme aimed at the upliftment of six notified minority communities through skilling and training (traditional and non-traditional), women's leadership and entrepreneurship, education via the National Institute of Open Schooling, and infrastructure development through the Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram. The scheme converges five previous initiatives: Seekho Aur Kamao, Nai Manzil, Nai Roshni, USTTAD, and Hamari Dharohar. The scheme also facilitates credit linkages with the National Minorities Development Finance Corporation (NMDFC). During the meeting, the Empowered Committee reviewed 15 proposals from government institutions, public sector undertakings, universities, and community-based organizations, encompassing technical skilling, entrepreneurship, and cultural heritage preservation. The Committee stressed the importance of timely implementation and a strong monitoring mechanism for PM VIKAS projects.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Minority Affairs: A ministry of the Government of India responsible for minority affairs.
PM VIKAS: Pradhan Mantri Virasat Ka Samvardhan (PM VIKAS) scheme, a Central Sector Scheme focused on upliftment of six notified minority communities.
Dr. Chandra Shekhar Kumar: Secretary, Ministry of Minority Affairs, and chairman of the 3rd Empowered Committee meeting.
New Delhi: Location of the 3rd Empowered Committee meeting at Pt. Deendayal Antyodaya Bhawan, CGO Complex in Delhi.
Seekho Aur Kamao: An erstwhile scheme converged into the PM VIKAS scheme.
Nai Manzil: An erstwhile scheme converged into the PM VIKAS scheme.
Nai Roshni: An erstwhile scheme converged into the PM VIKAS scheme.
National Minorities Development Finance Corporation NMDFC: An organisation that offers loan programs, facilitating credit linkages for beneficiaries of the PM VIKAS scheme.
Ministry of Minority Affairs
3rd Empowered Committee Meeting Held Under PM
VIKAS Scheme
Posted On: 24 JUL 2025 8:10PM by PIB Delhi
The 3rd Empowered Committee (EC) Meeting under the Pradhan Mantri Virasat Ka Samvardhan (PM
VIKAS) scheme was convened today ( 24th July 2025 ) under the chairmanship of Dr. Chandra Shekhar
Kumar, Secretary, Ministry of Minority Affairs, at the Chintan Conference Hall, Pt. Deendayal Antyodaya
Bhawan, CGO Complex, New Delhi.
The Pradhan Mantri Virasat Ka Samvardhan (PM VIKAS) is a Central Sector Scheme of the Ministry, which
converges five erstwhile schemes viz. ‘Seekho Aur Kamao’, ‘Nai Manzil’, ‘Nai Roshni’, ‘USTTAD’ and
‘Hamari Dharohar’ schemes and focuses on upliftment of six notified minority communities through the
following:
i. Skilling and Training (Non-traditional and traditional)
ii. Women Leadership and Entrepreneurship
iii. Education (through National Institute of Open Schooling)
iv. Infrastructure Development (through Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram)
The scheme also provides to facilitate credit linkages by connecting beneficiaries with loan programs offered
by the National Minorities Development & Finance Corporation (NMDFC).
For the implementation of the scheme, two key committees are constituted in order to scrutinise and evaluate
proposals. The Screening Committee is for initial scrutiny of the proposals and making recommendations to
the Empowered Committee, which approves the proposals.
th
On 24 July, 2025, the Empowered Committee examined 15 proposals from various government institutions,
public sector undertakings, universities and community-based organisations for onboarding under the PM
VIKAS Scheme. Representatives of the proposing institutions/organisations presented their proposals before
the committee, which included diverse proposals ranging from technical skilling and entrepreneurship to
cultural heritage preservation.
During the meeting, the Empowered Committee emphasised the need for timely implementation and evolving
a robust monitoring mechanism for the projects allocated under the PM VIKAS scheme.
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SS/ISA(Release ID: 2148014)