Parliament Question: Central Government Schemes for Minority Communities

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINORITY AFFAIRS LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 650 ANSWERED ON 22.07.2026 CENTRAL GOVERNMENT SCHEMES FOR MINORITY COMMUNITIES 650. SHRI MUHAMMED HAMDULLAH SAYEED: Will the Minister of MINORITY AFFAIRS be pleased to state: (a) the details of Central Government schemes for the welfare, education, skill development and economic empowerment of minority communities implemented in the Union Territory of Lakshadweep; (b) the details of funds allocated, released and utilised under these minority welfare schemes in Lakshadweep during the last three years and the current year, year-wise; (c) whether the Government has reviewed the effectiveness and coverage of these schemes in Lakshadweep considering its geographical isolation, limited institutional infrastructure and off- island education and employment requirements and if so, the details thereof; and (d) whether any representations have been received from the Lakshadweep Administration, elected representatives or community organisations regarding gaps, delays or the need for enhanced support under minority welfare schemes and if so, the details thereof? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF MINORITY AFFAIRS (SHRI KIREN RIJIJU) (a) to (c): Ministry of Minority Affairs implements following schemes for socio-economic empowerment of the six (6) centrally notified minority communities namely Buddhists, Christians, Jains, Muslims, Parsis and Sikhs in India: (i) PRADHAN MANTRI JAN VIKAS KARYAKRAM (PMJVK) Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram" (PMJVK), a Centrally Sponsored Scheme, is one of the flagship program of the Ministry of Minority Affairs for creation of community infrastructure in the Minority Concentration Areas of the country in the sectors viz. Health, Skill Development, Education, Women Centric Projects, Drinking Water and Supply, Sanitation, Sports, Renewable energy and Other Community Infrastructure.PMJVK is a demand driven scheme and State/UT-wise allocation of funds is not made under the Scheme. Projects are considered and approved on the basis of proposal received from respective State Governments/ UT Administrations. The projects are drafted/ formulated by the respective State Governments/ UT Administrations. No such project proposal has been received from the UT of Lakshadweep under PMJVK. (ii) PRADHAN MANTRI VIRASAT KA SAMVARDHAN (PM VIKAS) The Pradhan Mantri Virasat Ka Samvardhan (PM VIKAS) is a flagship Scheme of the Ministry which converges five erstwhile schemes viz. ‘Seekho Aur Kamao’, ‘Nai Manzil’, ‘Nai Roshni’, ‘Hamari Dharohar’ and ‘USTTAD’; and focuses on socio-economic empowerment of six notified minorities through skill development; entrepreneurship and leadership of minority women; and education support for school dropouts across the country, including Lakshadweep. Under the scheme, projects are allocated to eligible Project Implementing Agencies (PIAs) at the national level and are not allocated on a State/UT-wise basis. Consequently, State/UT-wise details of funds sanctioned and utilized under PM VIKAS are not maintained. Further, no PIA is presently imparting training under PM VIKAS in the Union Territory of Lakshadweep. At present, no proposal has been received under PM VIKAS Scheme for Lakshadweep. (iii) SCHOLARSHIP The Ministry has implemented the following three Scholarship schemes alongwith the Maulana Azad National Fellowship Scheme for the educational empowerment of the six centrally notified minority communities viz. Buddhist, Christian, Jain, Muslim, Parsi and Sikh: i) Pre-Matric Scholarship Scheme; ii) Post Matric Scholarship Scheme; and iii) Merit-cum-Means based Scholarship Scheme. Number of beneficiaries and funds released under scholarship schemes in Lakshadweep since 2023, is Nil, However, fund released under Maulana Azad National Fellowship (MANF) year-wise are as under: FINANCIAL YEAR SCHEME NO. OF STUDENT DISBURSEMENT 2023-24 MANF 0 0 2024-25 MANF 1 969500 2025-26 MANF 0 0 (iv) JIYO PARSI Release of financial assistance under Jiyo Parsi is a unique Central Sector Scheme launched in 2013-14 with the objective to reverse the declining trend of Parsi population by adopting a scientific protocol and structured interventions, stabilize their population and increase the population of Parsis in India.Release of financial assistance under Jiyo Parsi Scheme is demand-driven and is available to eligible members of the Parsi community across the country. Currently there are no beneficiaries of the scheme in Union Territory of Lakshadweep. Thus, no funds have been allocated, released or utilised under the Scheme for the Union Territory of Lakshadweep during the last three years and the current year. (v) NMDFC National Minorities Development & Finance Corporation (NMDFC) implements its schemes for socio-economic development of “backward sections” among the notified minority communities by providing concessional loan for self-employment income generation ventures across the country. Lakshadweep Administration has designated Lakshadweep Development Corporation as a State Channelizing Agency (SCA) to implement schemes of National Minorities Development and Finance Corporation (NMDFC) in the UT. NMDFC is implementing its concessional credit schemes for self-employment and other income-generating activities in the Union Territory of Lakshadweep through Canara Bank and loans of Rs. 27 lakh to 41 beneficiaries has been disbursed under this scheme till date. The Government periodically reviews the implementation and coverage of its schemes, including in Lakshadweep, keeping in view its geographical and infrastructural constraints. Appropriate measures are taken from time to time to improve accessibility and effective implementation of the schemes, as required. (d) No representation has been received from the Lakshadweep Administration, elected representatives or community organisations regarding gaps, delays or the need for enhanced support under minority welfare schemes. ******