SRINAGAR: The Ministry of Minority Affairs has released detailed data on the scholarship schemes aimed at the socio-economic empowerment of the minority communities in Jammu and Kashmir. The figures indicate a substantial uptake in both pre-matric and post-matric scholarships over the years, showcasing the impact of these schemes on the educational advancement of the minority communities in the region.
The data was released in response to a clubbed question of two MPs – Jugal Kisore and Naba Charan Mahji in the Lok Sabha.
Pre-Matric Scholarship Scheme
The Pre-Matric Scholarship Scheme has seen a remarkable number of beneficiaries from Jammu and Kashmir’s minority communities over the years:
- 2017-18: 1,57,548 students
- 2018-19: 1,55,312 students
- 2019-20: 5,23,653 students
- 2020-21: 4,66,290 students
- 2021-22: 3,95,184 students
The significant increase in 2019-20 highlights the government’s intensified efforts to support minority students at the pre-matric level, ensuring early educational intervention. However, the numbers are gradually falling.
Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme
The Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme, designed to support students pursuing higher education, also saw fluctuating but impactful participation:
- 2017-18: 26,695 students
- 2018-19: 28,536 students
- 2019-20: 1,11,052 students
- 2020-21: 53,725 students
- 2021-22: 47,601 students
The peak in 2019-20 demonstrates a targeted push towards enabling higher education for minority students, though the numbers show a need for sustained efforts to maintain and grow this support.
Merit-cum-Means Based Scholarship Scheme
The Merit-cum-Means Based Scholarship Scheme, aimed at providing financial assistance to meritorious students, showed consistent growth:
- 2017-18: 6,191 students
- 2018-19: 5,794 students
- 2019-20: 7,702 students
- 2020-21: 8,898 students
- 2021-22: 9,397 students
This steady increase reflects a positive trend in recognizing and supporting academic excellence among minority students.
Socio-Economic Empowerment Initiatives
The Ministry of Minority Affairs implements various schemes for the socio-economic empowerment of the six centrally notified minority communities. One significant initiative is the PM VIKAS (Pradhan Mantri Virasat Ka Samvardhan) Scheme, which converges five former livelihood schemes of the Ministry:
- Seekho aur Kamao (SAK): Launched in 2013-14, this scheme aimed to upgrade the skills of minority youth (14-45 years) in various modern and traditional skills.
- Nai Manzil: Introduced in 2015, this scheme focused on benefiting minority youth, particularly school dropouts from BPL families, by providing education and skill development support.
Eligible beneficiaries from these schemes continue to benefit under the PM VIKAS Scheme, which is implemented through Project Implementing Agencies (PIAs) empanelled by the Ministry.
Naya Savera and Nai Udaan Schemes
Other significant schemes include:
- Naya Savera (Free Coaching and Allied Scheme): Implemented from 2007-08 to 2021-22, this scheme provided special coaching to minority students for qualifying examinations for admission into technical/professional courses and competitive exams for recruitment into Group A, B, and C services.
- Nai Udaan: Active from 2013-14 to 2021-22, this scheme offered financial support to minority candidates who qualified in the preliminary examinations conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), Staff Selection Commission (SSC), and State Public Service Commissions (SPSCs).
The Ministry of Minority Affairs’ response suggests a focused approach to educational support through various scholarship schemes has had a notable impact on the socio-economic empowerment of minority communities in Jammu and Kashmir. As the data indicates, sustained and enhanced support is essential to maintaining the momentum and ensuring that the benefits of these schemes reach an even broader section of the minority communities
