Note on Ministry of Minority Affairs

The Ministry of Minority Affairs is a government of India ministry that was founded on January 29, 2006, after being carved out of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. It is the top organization for the federal government’s regulatory and developmental programmes for India’s minority religious communities, which include Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Buddhists, Zoroastrians (Parsis), and Jains, as known by the Section 2(c) of National Commission for the Minorities Act, 1992.

On September 4, 2017, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi was appointed as a cabinet minister for Minority Affairs. When Najma Heptulla was the cabinet minister, he was the Minister of State for Minority Affairs. Naqvi was given the independent control of the Ministry after Najma Heptulla resigned on July 12, 2016.

In consultation with the Ministry of External Affairs, the ministry is also involved with linguistic minorities and the office of the Commissioner for Linguistic Minorities, representation of the Anglo-Indian community, and protection and preservation of the those who are not Muslim shrines in Pakistan and Muslim shrines in India under the Pant-Mirza Agreement of 1955.

The Minister in Charge is also the Chairperson of India’s Central Wakf Council, which oversees the state Wakf Boards. Every year, the Ministry of Minority Affairs awards MOMA scholarships to students from India’s minority communities. MOMA Scholarship is a scholarship program run by the Ministry of Minority Affairs with the goal of assisting students from minority groups who are financially challenged yet desire to continue higher education in India. The Sikhs, Muslims, Buddhists, Christians, Parsis , and Jains are among India’s minorities. The scholarship is given to students by the Indian government through state governments and local governments. Undergraduate and postgraduate studies are eligible for the funding.

According to the Indian Constitution, linguistic minorities shall be assigned a Special Officer.

According to Constitutional Article: 350B we have that,

• The Special Officer’s responsibility is to investigate all matters relating to the safeguards provided for linguistic minorities under this Constitution and report to the President at such intervals as the President may direct, and the President shall cause all such reports to be laid before each House of Parliament and sent to the governments of the States concerned.
• It will be chosen based on states, as states were founded on the basis of linguistics.

Vision of Ministry of Minority Affairs:

Empowering minority populations and establishing a conducive atmosphere for our country’s multi-racial, multi-ethnic, multicultural, multilingual, and multi-religious nature.

Mission of Ministry of Minority Affairs:

To enhance the socio-economic situations of minority populations via affirmative action and inclusive development, so that all citizens have an equal chance to actively participate in the creation of a dynamic nation. To guarantee that minorities have a fair share in education, employment, and economic activity, as well as to assure their upliftment.

Scholarship Programs & Schemes by Ministry of Minority Affairs:

• Jiyo Parsi is a plan to stem the Parsi population loss.
• Scheme for Minority Women’s Leadership Development (Nai Roshni)
• An Integrated Education and Livelihood Initiative for Minority Communities (Nai Manzil)
• Nai Udaan – Support for minority students who pass the UPSC, State PSC, and SSC preliminary exams.
• Seekho aur Kamao (Learn and Earn) – Minority Skill Development Program
• Hamari Dharohar is a strategy to conserve the rich history of India’s Minority Communities within the context of Indian culture as a whole.
• Scholarship Program for Pre-Matric Students
• Scholarships for Post-Matric Students
• Scholarship Program based on Merit and Means
• Maulana Azad National Fellowship for Minority Students is a national fellowship for minority students established by Maulana Azad.
• Padho Pardesh – Interest Subsidy Scheme for Minority Community Students Taking Out Educational Loans for Overseas Studies

Assignment of Business Rules According to the Second Schedule to the Government of India (Allocation of Business) Rules, 1961, the following subjects have been assigned to this Ministry:

• Overall policy, planning, coordination, assessment, and review of minority community regulatory and development programmes.
• All issues connected to minority populations, with the exception of questions of law and order.
• In conjunction with other Central Government Ministries and State Governments, policy efforts for minorities’ safety and security.
• Linguistic Minorities and the Office of the Commissioner for Linguistic Minorities-related issues.
• The National Commission for Minorities Act and its related issues.
• Under the Administration of Evacuee Property Act, 1950 (31 of 1950), work on the Evacuee Waqf holdings (since repealed).
• The Anglo-Indian community is represented.
• In conjunction with the Ministry of External Affairs, protection and maintenance of non-Muslim sites in Pakistan and Muslim shrines in India under the Pant-Mirza Agreement of 1955.
• In coordination with the Ministry of External Affairs, questions pertaining to minority groups in adjacent nations.
• Charities and philanthropic institutions, as well as charitable and religious endowments, relating to the Department’s topics.
• Minority socioeconomic, cultural, and educational issues, as well as minority groups, such as the Maulana Azad Education Foundation.

Conclusion:

The Ministry of Minority Affairs was established on January 29, 2006, to ensure a more focused approach to issues affecting minorities, as well as to facilitate the formulation of overall policy, planning, coordination, evaluation, and review of the regulatory framework and development programmes for the benefit of minority communities.