Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Minority Affairs addressed Lok Sabha Question 582 on July 23, 2025, detailing the implementation of minority welfare schemes, challenges, review meetings with the Maharashtra government, and digital literacy programs. The Ministry implements schemes nationwide, including in Maharashtra, for the socio-economic and educational empowerment of six notified minority communities. Review meetings are regularly held, and workshops are conducted to improve scheme implementation.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Minority Welfare Schemes:**
* Implemented for the welfare of all strata, with a focus on economically weaker and lesser privileged sections, including minorities.
* Specifically target socio-economic and educational empowerment of Muslims, Buddhists, Christians, Jains, Parsis, and Sikhs.
* **Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram (PMJVK):**
* Aims to create community infrastructure in Minority Concentration Areas (MCAs).
* Focuses on sectors like Health, Skill Development, Women Centric Projects, Drinking Water and Supply, Sanitation, and Sports.
* Execution and maintenance are the responsibility of the State Government or UT Administration.
* Review meetings are regularly held to assess physical and financial progress.
* **Scholarship Schemes:**
* Pre-Matric, Post-Matric, and Merit-cum-Means based schemes for educational empowerment.
* Challenges include disbursement delays due to varied academic calendars, incorrect application details, delayed payment cycles, inadequate proposals from North Eastern States, and delayed submission of Utilization Certificates.
* **Jiyo Parsi Scheme:**
* Aims to arrest the population decline of the Parsi community.
* Implemented through State Governments with the assistance of Parsi Punchayets/Anjumans/Agiaries.
* Requires State Government verification and annual biometric authentication of beneficiaries.
* A DO letter was issued on July 9, 2025, to expedite the verification process in Maharashtra, and a physical meeting was held on July 11, 2025, in Mumbai.
* Outreach activities are requested to increase awareness and participation.
* **National Minorities Development Finance Corporation (NMDFC):**
* Implements schemes for socio-economic development through concessional loans for self-employment.
* Implemented through State Channelizing Agencies (SCAs).
* In Maharashtra, Maulana Azad Alpsankhyak Aarthik Vikas Nigam (MAAAVN) is the SCA.
* Focuses on improving grass root level recoveries and digitizing loan records.
* **Digital Literacy Program:**
* 1,520 units of Smart Class Rooms sanctioned to Maharashtra under PMJVK at a total cost of ₹40.08 crore.
Impact Analysis:
* **State Government of Maharashtra**
* *Impact:* Responsible for the execution, operation, and maintenance of PMJVK projects, verifying applicants for the Jiyo Parsi Scheme, and ensuring effective implementation of NMDFC schemes through MAAAVN.
* *Action Required:* Expedite verification processes for the Jiyo Parsi Scheme, conduct outreach activities for the Parsi community, improve grass root level recoveries and digitize loan records for NMDFC schemes, and ensure timely submission of Utilization Certificates for scholarship schemes.
* **Minority Communities (Muslim, Buddhist, Christian, Jain, Parsi, Sikh)**
* *Impact:* Beneficiaries of welfare schemes aimed at socio-economic and educational empowerment.
* *Action Required:* Ensure accurate submission of online applications for scholarships, participate in outreach programs for the Jiyo Parsi Scheme, and utilize the Smart Class Rooms provided under PMJVK.
* **Maulana Azad Alpsankhyak Aarthik Vikas Nigam (MAAAVN)**
* *Impact:* State Channelizing Agency for NMDFC schemes in Maharashtra.
* *Action Required:* Improve grass root level recoveries, digitize loan records, and enhance credit delivery infrastructure with support from NMDFC.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Minority Affairs: The Indian government ministry responsible for minority affairs, which implements various schemes for the welfare and upliftment of minorities.
Maharashtra: A state in India where minority welfare schemes are being implemented and reviewed.
PMJVK (Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram): A centrally sponsored scheme and flagship program of the Ministry of Minority Affairs focused on community infrastructure development in Minority Concentration Areas.
Muslim: One of the six centrally notified minority communities in India for whom socioeconomic and educational empowerment schemes are implemented.
Buddhist: One of the six centrally notified minority communities in India for whom socioeconomic and educational empowerment schemes are implemented.
Jiyo Parsi Scheme: A Central Sector Scheme aimed at arresting the population decline of the Parsi Community in India.
NMFDC (National Minorities Development Finance Corporation): A PSU under the Ministry of Minority Affairs that implements schemes for socioeconomic development of backward sections among the notified minority communities by providing concessional loans.
MAAAVN (Maulana Azad Alpsankhyak Aarthik Vikas Nigam): The State Channelizing Agency (SCA) of NMDFC in Maharashtra.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF MINORITY AFFAIRS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. †582
ANSWERED ON 23.07.2025
MINORITY WELFARE SCHEMES
†582. SHRI BALYA MAMA SURESH GOPINATH MHATRE:
Will the Minister of MINORITY AFFAIRS be pleased to state:
(a) the details of major challenges in the implementation of minority welfare schemes in
Maharashtra, district-wise;
(b) whether the Union Government has held any review meeting with the State Government of
Maharashtra to coordinate the implementation of such schemes, if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether any special programme or campaign is being undertaken in Maharashtra to connect
minority communities with digital literacy; and
(d) if so, the details thereof, district-wise and if not, the reasons therefor?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF MINORITY AFFAIRS
(SHRI KIREN RIJIJU)
(a) & (b): The Government implements the following schemes for the welfare and upliftment of
every strata, including minorities, especially the economically weaker and lesser privileged
sections of the society. Ministry of Minority Affairs specifically implements various schemes
across the country, including Maharashtra, for socio-economic and educational empowerment of
the six (6) centrally notified minority communities viz. Muslim, Buddhist, Christian, Jain, Parsi
and Sikh. These schemes are as under:
I. PMJVK Scheme
“Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram" (PMJVK), a Centrally Sponsored Scheme, is one
of the flagship programme 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, Women Centric Projects, Drinking Water and Supply, Sanitation and Sports. The
scheme also includes boosting the social and economic conditions of the Minority Communities
of that particular area.
The execution, operation, and maintenance of the project units approved under PMJVK
are the sole responsibility of the concerned State Government or Union Territory (UT)
Administration, as applicable.
The Ministry regularly holds review meetings with State/UT authorities, including the
Government of Maharashtra, to assess both the physical and financial progress of PMJVK
projects. Additionally, National Workshops have been conducted to sensitize States/ UTs about
the importance of adhering strictly to the Public Financial Management System (PFMS) and the
PMJVK guidelines.II. Scholarship Schemes
Ministry of Minority Affairs implements three scholarship schemes namely Pre-Matric,
Post-Matric and Merit-cum-Means based Scholarship Schemes for the educational empowerment
of six notified minority communities.
While no such challenge, specific to the State of Maharashtra had emerged during the
implementation of the schemes, the common challenges include (i) Difficulty in following the
time schedule for disbursement of scholarships due to start of academic session on different dates
in various States/UTs; (ii) In online applications, the wrong entry of bank account numbers,
Aadhaar Number, spelling of name, etc, by the applicants, which result in rejection of payment
by the banks at the time of disbursement; (iii) Due to long initial process of application and
verification of scholarship applications, the payment starts only in 3rd quarter and completed in
4th quarter; (iv) Non-receipt of adequate proposals (maintaining community-wise balance) from
North Eastern (NE) States and (v) Delayed or non-submission of complete Utilization
Certificates by States every year.
III. Jiyo Parsi Scheme
Jiyo Parsi Scheme is a unique Central Sector Scheme for arresting the population decline
of the Parsi Community in India. The scheme was launched in the year 2013-14. The objective of
the scheme is 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.
The scheme is being implemented through the State Governments with the assistance of
selected Parsi Punchayets/Anjumans/Agiaries. In terms of the Guidelines of this scheme, State
Government verifies the applicants and gets the Biometric Authentication of all beneficiaries
done annually. Only authenticated beneficiaries are considered for payments. Financial
assistance to the beneficiaries of the Medical and the Health of Community (HoC) components is
released under Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) Mode.
For proper Implementation of the Jiyo Parsi Scheme, a DO letter has been issued on 9th
July, 2025 to the State Government of Maharashtra for expediting the verification process of
applicants under the Medical and Health of Community components so that financial assistance
can be released to eligible beneficiaries without delay. A physical meeting under the
Chairmanship of Secretary, Minority Affairs has been conducted on 11th July 2025 at Mumbai
with the officers of State Government of Maharashtra to expedite the process of verification.
In addition to this, the Govt of Maharashtra has also been requested for conducting
outreach activities among the Parsi community in the State to ensure greater awareness and
participation in the scheme.
IV. Schemes implemented by NMDFC, a PSU under Ministry of Minority Affairs
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. The schemes of NMDFC are implemented through the State Channelizing
Agencies (SCAs) nominated by respective State Govt./ UT Administration, Punjab Gramin Bank
and Canara Bank.In the State of Maharashtra, Maulana Azad Alpsankhyak Aarthik Vikas Nigam
(MAAAVN) is the State Channelizing Agency (SCA) of NMDFC. No major challenge is being
faced by MAAAVN in implementation of Minority welfare scheme in the state of Maharashtra.
A team from NMDFC had visited Mumbai and met Secretary, Minority Development
Dept., Govt. of Maharashtra, in June, 2025 and requested for improving grass root level
recoveries and digitizing the loan records of the beneficiaries/loanees. The NMDFC team also
assured to support MAAAVN to improve credit delivery infrastructure under the Grant-in-aid
Scheme of Ministry of Minority Affairs.
Besides above, this Ministry has also implemented various skill development schemes
like Seekho aur Kamao, USTTAD and Nai Manzil. These schemes were implemented as Central
Sector Schemes and hence, no physical/ financial targets were allocated to States.
(c) & (d): The Ministry has sanctioned 1,520 units of Smart Class Rooms to the State of
Maharashtra, at a total cost of ₹40.08 crore under PMJVK Scheme. The district-wise details of
the sanctioned units are annexed.
*****Annexure
Annexure referred to in reply to Parts (c) & (d) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. †582
for 23.07.2025 regarding ‘Minority Welfare Schemes’ raised by Shri Balya Mama Suresh
Gopinath Mhatre
The district-wise details of the sanctioned units in Maharashtra are as under:
Name of District Approval No of Units Total Cost Central Share Total funds
Year approved approved approved released
(Rs. in Lakh) (Rs. in Lakh) (Rs. in Lakh)
Ahmednagar 2020-21 8 20.32 12.19 3.66
Akola 2020-21 320 812.80 487.68 146.30
Amravati 2020-21 160 406.40 243.84 73.15
Aurangabad 2020-21 134 340.36 204.22 61.26
Bid 2020-21 3 58.32 34.99 17.50
Buldana 2015-16 35 151.80 91.08 114.84
2020-21 434 1136.16 681.70 209.17
Chandrapur 2020-21 32 81.28 48.77 14.63
Dhule 2020-21 8 20.32 12.19 3.66
Hingoli 2020-21 106 269.24 161.54 48.46
Jalgaon 2020-21 10 25.40 15.24 4.57
Jalna 2020-21 14 35.56 21.34 6.40
Mumbai City 2020-21 4 10.16 6.10 1.83
Osmanabad 2020-21 6 15.24 9.14 2.74
Parbhani 2020-21 124 314.96 188.98 56.69
Ratnagiri 2020-21 12 30.48 18.29 5.49
Sangli 2020-21 32 81.28 48.77 14.63
Washim 2020-21 58 147.32 88.39 26.52
Yavatmal 2020-21 20 50.80 30.48 9.14
Grand Total 1520 4008.20 2404.92 820.66
*****