More than 69 Thousand Women Covered Under Nai Roshni Scheme Till 31st January During Current Financial Year

The Ministry of Minority Affairs is implementing three specific schemes for the welfare of Minority women under the “Nai – Roshni” for Leadership Development of Minority Women, specially for development of women belonging to notified minority communities namely Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Parsis and Jains, Rs. 14.13 Crore have been released and 69 thousand 150 women have been covered till 31st January during current financial year, Rs. 14.81 crore were released and 58 thousand 725 women were covered in 2015-16, while Rs. 13.78 Crore were released and 71 thousand 75 women were covered in 2014-16. The aim of the scheme is to empower and instill confidence in women by providing knowledge, tool and techniques for interacting with Government system and others at all levels. The scheme is implemented through selected Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) all over the country.

Begum Hazrat Mahal National Scholarship for Meritorious Girls belonging to minorities is implemented through Maulana Azad Education Foundation. Under the scheme Rs. 57.60 Crore were released and 48 thousand girls were covered in 2015-16, while Rs. 54.51 Crore were released and 45 thousand 426 girls were covered in 2014-15.

Mahila Samridhi Yojana is implemented through National Minorities Development & Finance Corporation (NMDFC) wherein skill development training is imparted to group of women in women friendly trades. Training period is of maximum six months and raw material cost of upto Rs.1,500/- per trainee and stipend @ Rs.1000/- per trainee is provided. During the period of training, the women formed into Self Help Group, followed by infusion of micro-credit maximum upto Rs.1.00 lacs per member for the purpose of using the skill developed during the training, for income generation activities.

This information was given by Shri Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, the Minister of State (IC) for Minority Affairs, in written reply to a question in Lok Sabha.