Minority Welfare

The country has been declared a secular, socialist, and democratic republic in the Indian constitution, which does not allow discrimination based on religion and provides for the preservation and cultivation of language and culture. At the same time, this provides the right of establishment at their preferred educational institutions as well as their management. 

Many plans are being implemented for the minority group in order to improve their social and economic conditions, and with the advancement of education, economic condition, and social development, they can be brought up in the mainstream of society. The government is doing the same thing. The state government created the ‘Minority Welfare and Charity’ department on August 12, 1995, in notice number 4050/20-3-95-539(2)/95 for such plans. This department was created to oversee the coordination, implementation, and operation of such plons.

What is Minority Welfare?

The Department of Minorities Welfare was established in 1993. The Department’s primary goal is the socioeconomic development and educational advancement of minorities in the state. 

The Department’s main functions are as follows: introduce schemes to promote accelerated socioeconomic development of minorities; introduce educational concessions for students from minority communities; implement schemes for the development of women and children from minority communities; provide training and employment opportunities, thereby addressing the problem of economic backwardness among minorities; and provide guidance to those from minority communities who wish to establish businesses.

Departmental Developmental Activities

1. Post-Metric Scholarships

Post-Metric scholarships will be granted to economically disadvantaged minority students. For the academic year 2018-19, a total of Rs. 84.00 Lakhs in fees reimbursement and Rs. 46.00 Lakhs in scholarships were made available to 721 students.

2. Overseas Education

The Government of Andhra Pradesh has introduced an innovative scheme for conducting Overseas Education at a cost of Rs.10,000/- per student. For the academic year 2018-19, a budget of Rs 15.90 lakhs was set aside for two students.

3. Dulhan

The government of Andhra Pradesh has launched an innovative scheme to conduct DULHAN for poor Christian, Muslim, Sikh, Parsi, and Jains girls at a cost of Rs.50,000/- each. For the fiscal year 2018-19, a total of Rs 13.00 Lakhs was distributed to 26 recipients.

4. Grant-in-Aid

In the fiscal year 2016-17, Rs 25 lakhs was allotted for Masjids, burial grounds, sheds, and compound walls. As a result, construction and repairs are underway.

5. Financial Assistance to Welfare Institutions

Church-run hospitals, school buildings, orphanages, and old-age homes receive financial assistance, as well as the construction of community halls-cum-youth resource centres for organising youth awareness programmes and promoting Christian culture.

6. Urdughar-cum-Shadikhana

In the fiscal year 2016-17, a sum of Rs 35.00 Lakhs was made available for Shadikhana Constructions and Renovations. As a result, construction and repairs are underway.

7. Waqf institutions in need of financial assistance

During the month of Ramzan 2018, the government released Rs 10.00 lakhs for financial assistance to Poor and Needy Waqf institutions for minor repairs, renovations, and whitewashing, among other things.

Directorate of Minority Welfare

The Directorate of Minority Welfare, established under the General Administration Department in 2008, is a vibrant government initiative dedicated to the overall welfare and advancement of notified minority communities, including Muslims, Christians, Buddhists, Sikhs, Jains, and Parsis. 

The Directorate serves as the nodal agency for implementing both Central and State schemes and projects aimed at uplifting the state’s minority communities. The Directorate’s main functions are the Kerala State Commission for Minorities, the State Competent Authority, the Kerala State Minority Development Finance Corporation, the Kerala Madrassa Teachers’ Welfare Fund Board, and the Coaching Centre for Minority Youth. The Directorate’s guiding principle is social empowerment. 

As a result, the Directorate’s primary goal is the overall well-being and advancement of the state’s minority communities. To that end, the Directorate develops, implements, and monitors policies and programmes that promote opportunities for minority communities in all aspects of life and work.

General Administration Department

The General Administration Department is a civil service body in Myanmar that staffs all regional and state-level governments and administers the country’s numerous districts and townships. 

It also plays an important role in administering the country’s administrative capital of Naypyidaw, as the Myanmar Constitution states that the secretary of the Naypyidaw Council is the head of GAD, and that GAD offices are to be co-located with the Naypyidaw Council offices. State and regional GAD office directors are also secretaries of state and regional governments. 

After being separated from the Ministry of Home Affairs, it was reorganised and re invoked on December 28, 2018, under the Ministry of the Office of the Union Government. The SAC was reorganised under the Ministry of Home Affairs on May 5, 2021.

Vibrant Government Initiative

The Indian government’s key initiative on Young India-Vibrant India is critical for the upcoming UPSC IAS Exam. Such important topics for the IAS Exam should be studied by IAS aspirants.

The IAS aspirant should cover all topics of national importance as well as government policies in place to make India a better place in the world in terms of economy, social development, technological advancement, and other means of development. Here, we have highlighted the current government’s initiatives to make India a young and vibrant country in the world.

Conclusion

The country has been declared a secular, socialist, and democratic republic in the Indian constitution, which does not allow discrimination based on religion and provides for the preservation and cultivation of language and culture. Many plans are being implemented for the minority group in order to improve their social and economic conditions, and with the advancement of education, economic condition, and social development, they can be brought up in the mainstream of society. The Department’s primary goal is the socioeconomic development and educational advancement of minorities in the state. The Directorate of Minority Welfare, established under the General Administration Department in 2008, is a vibrant government initiative dedicated to the overall welfare and advancement of notified minority communities, including Muslims, Christians, Buddhists, Sikhs, Jains, and Parsis.