Efforts on to implement welfare schemes for minorities

Odisha Channel Bureau New Delhi, Aug 6: The BJP-led government at the Centre has initiated a series of measure to ensure effective implementation of the various schemes and programmes.This was stated by Minister of State for Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi in Lok Sabha yesterday, according to an official release issued today.According to the Minister, to ensure effective implementation of the various schemes/programmes, some of the following measures have been taken:i.Activity-wise timelines are drawn up and communicated to all States/UTs and stakeholders at the beginning of each year as well as posted on the website of the Ministry.ii.Students belonging to notified minority communities are required to apply for the scholarships online on a dedicated scholarship portal i.e.National Scholarship Portal (NSP) under URL: www.scholarships.gov.in and scholarships are disbursed through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mode to the students’ bank accounts.iii.Students can submit self-declaration/self-certification and self attested copies of documents in respect of Religion Certificate, Annual family income, mark-sheets etc.iv.Periodic reviews are undertaken with State Governments/UT Administrations and Banks.According to Naqvi, the details regarding the monitoring mechanism under various schemes/programmes of M/o Minority Affairs are -i. Multi-sectoral Development Programme (MsDP): There is a robust mechanism for monitoring of the programme.Block Level Committee (BLC) monitors the implementation of MsDP at the block level.The District Level Committees and State Level Committees, constituted for implementation of the Prime Minister’s New 15 Point Programme, are the Oversight Committees at the District and State levels to monitor the progress of implementation of MsDP. The State Governments/UT Administrations are required to submit quarterly progress reports on the implementation of MsDP to this Ministry.At the Central level, there is a three tier monitoring mechanism to review the progress of implementation of MsDP.The Empowered Committee at the Centre under the chairmanship of Secretary, Ministry of Minority Affairs, serves as the Oversight Committee to monitor the progress of implementation of MsDP.The progress of implementation of the programme is also monitored by this Ministry with the States/UTs through regular meetings and conferences as well as visits of officials.ii. The guidelines of Seekho aur Kamao (Skill Development Initiative for minorities) provide for conduct of concurrent monitoring and random checking of physical and financial reports on the Management Information System (MIS) through independent agency.Further, Ministry’s officials also monitor the projects from time to time through random visit to employers and training centres and verification of beneficiaries.iii.The guidelines of Nai Roshni (Leadership Development of Minority Women) provide for a mechanism for monitoring the progress of implementation of the projects by organizations and for this purpose invite State Secretary concerned and also some renowned women/NGOs to the review meetings.The Sanctioning Committee may also review the progress of implementation of the projects.It also provides that the District Level Committees constituted under Multi-sectoral Development Programme (MsDP), which also involve People’s representative, may also be assigned the task of monitoring this programme.Financial monitoring of implementing organizations may also be done through Chartered Accountants empanelled for this purpose by the Ministry.iv. The guidelines of USTTAD (Upgrading the Skills and Training in Traditional Arts/Crafts for Development) provide for conduct of concurrent monitoring and random checking of physical and financial reports on the Management Information System (MIS) through independent agency.Further, Ministry’s officials may also monitor the projects from time to time through random visit to training centres and verification of beneficiaries.The Information gathered from this will be fed into the decision making process for release of funds and sanctions of project proposals.v. Under Equity contribution to National Minorities Development and Finance Corporation (NMDFC), the Ministry reviews/monitors the performance of NMDFC, a CPSE under administrative control of this Ministry, on Quarterly basis through Performance Review meetings.vi. Under the schemes of Pre-Matric Scholarship, Post-Matric Scholarship, Merit-cum-Means based Scholarship, Maulana Azad National Fellowship, Free Coaching & Allied Scheme and Maulana Azad Education Foundation, meant for educational empowerment of notified minority communities, periodic reviews are undertaken with State Governments/UT Administrations and Banks.The Free Coaching and Allied Scheme is implemented through Government/Private Coaching Institutions empanelled by this Ministry.The coaching institutions are monitored by States/UTs and Ministry officials.The Ministry has also taken action for involving independent monitors in this regard.Besides, Maulana Azad National Fellowship is implemented by University Grants Commission (UGC) under Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mode.vii. Under Padho Pardesh, an interest subsidy scheme for higher studies abroad and implemented through banks, the credentials of students are verified by the banks.Ministry takes periodic review with the banks.viii.The Scheme of Support for minority students clearing prelims conducted by UPSC/SSC/State Public Service Commissions, etc.is directly implemented by the Ministry by calling applications from the candidates selected in the Preliminary examinations conducted by UPSC/SSC/State Public Service Commissions, etc.The candidates are verified with the help of their admit card of Prelims exam, results, etc.and the funds are transferred directly in their bank accounts.ix.Jiyo Parsi scheme is implemented through the community participation and is monitored by the Parsi community itself.Details of cases relating to irregularities and corruption in the implementation of schemes are -i.Under MsDP, till date, no case of irregularity/corruption in the implementation of the scheme has been brought to the notice by any State Government or UT Administration.However, public references on implementation of schemes received in the Ministry, from time to time, are forwarded to the State Governments/UTs for appropriate action.ii.Under Seekho aur Kamao, one complaint regarding irregularities by a Delhi based Project Implementing Agency was received in the Ministry, which was inquired into.After the enquiry, it was found that the complaint was not correct.iii.For some coaching institutes running in Uttar Pradesh, complaints were received regarding their facilities, which were sent to State Government of Uttar Pradesh for enquiring into the matter.Government of Uttar Pradesh informed that the complaints were not genuine.