Muslims have the least share of working people among all the religious
communities in the country. The Census 2011 data on comparative share of
employment among persons of major religious groups shows that Muslims
have the lowest worker-population ratio (WPR) of 32.6 per cent.
The
WPR for other communities includes 41 per cent for Hindus, 41.9 per cent
for Christians, 36.3 per cent for Sikhs, 43.1 per cent for Buddhists
and 35.5 per cent for Jains.
The all-India WPR for all
communities was 39.8 per cent. As per NSS 68th Round Report of National
Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO), on `Employment and Unemployment
Situation among Major Religious Groups in India' (July 2011-June 2012),
although there is a decrease in the WPR among rural persons of the
Muslim community, there has been improvement of 1.1 per cent of urban
persons of Muslim community as compared to 66th Round of NSS Report.
Under the Prime Minister's new 15-point programme unveiled in 2006 and
pursuant to the recommendations of Sachar Committee to
enhance opportunities for education and ensure equitable share for
minorities in economic activities and employment, several existing
schemes were revamped and new schemes were launched for enhanced credit
support to minorities for self-employment, recruitment to state and
central government jobs, skill development of minorities and measures
for special development initiatives and affirmative action. All these
schemes initiatives are being implemented by various ministries'
departments of the
central government exclusively or by earmarking of 15 per cent of
overall physical and financial targets (under the schemes) for the
welfare of minorities across the country.
These schemes are being implemented in addition to other schemes of the
central and state governments which are me
vernments which are meant for different beneficiaries stipulated under
such schemes without any differentiation on socio-religious ground.
Swarn Jayanti Gram Swarojgar Yojana (renamed as Aajeevika or National
Rural Livelihood Mission), Swarn Jayanti Shahari Rojgar Yojana (renamed
as National Urban Livelihood Mission), “Seekho aur Kamao“ skill
development initiatives, upgrading skill and training in traditional
artscrafts for Development (USTTAD) scheme, opening of industrial
training institutes, restructuring of National Minority Development and
Finance Corporation (NMDFC) and loan schemes, bank credit under priority
sector lending, opening of new bank branches, Nai Manzil (an integrated
education and livelihood initiative) and special consideration for
recruitment of minorities are the various schemes for ensuring equitable
share for minorities in economic activities.
Evaluation studies
have been conducted by the central ministries through independent
agencies in respect of some of the schemes initiatives to assess their
impact on the six notified minority communities.
The evaluation
study of the SJSRY (NULM) reveals that the scheme has impacted the
beneficiaries in terms of increase in income, upgrading of the social
status etc. It has also helped in mobilization of urban poor households
to form their own institutions like micro-enterprises, self-help groups
etc.
The impact of SGSY (NRLM) on the beneficiaries was not only
visible in their living standard but also in other behavioural aspects
like consumption pattern, saving behaviour and increased accessibility
to different amenities, like schooling, drinking water, sanitary
latrine, electricity etc. The evaluation stu
dy of the ICDS scheme observed that the performance of the scheme has
been satisfactory in achieving its objectives.
The evaluation
study of Indira Awaas Yoja
na (IAY) shows that its impact on beneficiaries' lives, livelihood and
well-being was manifold. IAY has ushered in new lifestyle with im
proved standard of living.
The beneficiaries had access to health care services and banking facilities after securing the IAY houses.
The concerted efforts of the central government improving the
educational empowerment of minorities, especially Muslims, considered
laggards in terms of education, has increased from 59.1 per cent (as per
2001 Census) to 68.5 per cent (2011 Census). During 2014-15, the
recruitment of minorities in government and public sector undertakings
(PSU) jobs improved to 9 percent of the total fresh recruitments made
during the year.
In all, 29.9 lakh houses were built for minority
communities with an expenditure of Rs 11,176 crore for the minorities
under IAY upto January 2016. About 12.45 lakh beneficiaries from
minority communities were assisted under SGSY and 6.80 lakh under SJSRY.
Another 1.65 lakh beneficiaries were assisted under Seekho aur Kamao
scheme.
As many as 60 it is have been upgraded into centres of
excellence in minority concentrated districts. As many as 20,508 new
bank branches were opened since the year 2006-07 in areas with
substantial minority population. The priority sector lending (PSL)
disbursement for minorities has steadily increased from 10.6 per cent in
2007-08 to 15.16 per cent of total outstanding amount as on 30th
September 2015 as against the target of 15 per cent. The total
outstanding loans of minorities aggregated to Rs 2,76,979 crore. As many
as 4.55 lakh beneficiaries got NMDFC term loans of Rs 2,437 crore and
7.21 lakh beneficiaries were provided Rs 1,057 crore under NMDFC micro
finance scheme.
By Syed Amin Jafri
(The author is an MLC and also a journalist)
Courtesy: Times of India
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