Parliament Question: Educational and Socio-Economic Upliftment of Minorities

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINORITY AFFAIRS LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. †*49 ANSWERED ON 03.12.2025 EDUCATIONAL AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC UPLIFTMENT OF MINORITIES †*49. SHRI TARIQ ANWAR:

Will the Minister of MINORITY AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a) whether it is true that there is educational backwardness, high unemployment rate and economic vulnerability among minority communities particularly the Muslim community in Katihar district;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Government has launched any special campaign to extend the benefits of schemes like 'Padho Pardesh' to minority students in Katihar;

(d) if so, the details thereof and the outcomes therefor; and

(e) the concrete plans of the Government to promote employment-oriented skill development programmes and entrepreneurship in minority-dominated areas of Katihar to overcome socio- economic backwardness? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF MINORITY AFFAIRS (SHRI KIREN RIJIJU)

(a) to (e): A statement is laid on the Table of the House. *****STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) to (e) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION No. †*49 FOR ANSWER ON 03.12.2025 ASKED BY SHRI TARIQ ANWAR REGARDING “EDUCATIONAL AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC UPLIFTMENT OF MINORITIES”

(a) and (b): No such specific data on educational backwardness, unemployment rate and economic vulnerability among minority communities is maintained in the Ministry. Hence, no data related to Katihar district is available.

However, the Ministry of Minority Affairs through its various interventions, works towards improvement of the socio-economic conditions of six notified minority communities in India.

(c) and (d): Padho Pardesh (an interest subsidy scheme), is not approved beyond 2021-22.

However, National Minorities Development & Finance Corporation (NMDFC), a PSU under Ministry, provides educational loan upto Rs.30 lakh to students for their education abroad, at lower rate of interest rate of 3 % per annum, exclusively to students belonging to minority communities.

(e): The Ministry of Minority Affairs implements the Pradhan Mantri Virasat Ka Samvardhan (PM VIKAS) as a Central Sector Scheme. The scheme focuses on upliftment of six notified

minority communities through the following: i. Skilling and Training (Non-traditional and traditional): PM VIKAS places strong emphasis on promoting employment-oriented skilling and entrepreneurship, among minorities.

The scheme supports training in both traditional crafts and modern, high-growth sectors such as IT-ITeS, logistics, healthcare, electronics, and other emerging domains. ii. Women Leadership and Entrepreneurship: PM VIKAS seeks to empower minority women through training in digital literacy, financial inclusion, community leadership, and livelihood enhancement. The programme equips women with essential entrepreneurial competencies, and access to credit and market opportunities, thereby fostering greater economic participation.

Besides, under the term loan scheme of NMDFC, assistance is available for any commercially viable & technically feasible venture, in following sectors:

(a) Agriculture & Allied; (b) Technical Trades; (c) Small Business; (d) Artisan & Traditional Occupations; (e) Transport & Service Sector. ******