Union Budget 2012-13 Highlights

The Ministry of Minority Affairs gets Rs. 385 Crore More as Central Plan Outlay in The Union Budget 2012-13
Major increase in Provisions for Scholarship Schemes
Many New Schemes Provided for in the Budget
Over Rs. 4 Crore Provision for Free Cycles for Girl Students of Class IX

The Ministry of Minority Affairs has got an outlay of Rs. 3,135 crore as Central Plan Outlay in the Union General Budget 2012-13 announced here today. This is an increase of Rs. 385 crore over the Revised Budget Estimates for the current FY 2011-12 (which stands at Rs. 2,750 crore). The Budget 2012-13 increases significantly the outlay for scholarship schemes being implemented by the Ministry for the students belonging to the Minorities:

1. Provision for Pre-Matric Scholarship has been increased from Rs. 540 crore to Rs. 810 crore;
2. Post-Matric Scholarship gets Rs. 450 crore – up from Rs. 405 crore;
3. Merit-cum-means Scholarship scheme gets Rs. 198 crore - as against Rs. 126 crore in the Revised Budget Estimates for the current FY 2011-12.
4. Provision for Maulana Azad National Fellowship for Minority students has been enhanced from Rs. 47 crore to Rs. 63 crore.

The Union General Budget 2012-13 also provides Rs. 4.50 crore for a new scheme to provide free cycles to girl students of class IX with the objective of retention of minority girl students from class IX onwards.

Another new scheme: Skill Development Initiatives has been provided Rs. 18 crore in the Budget to allow urban and rural livelihoods to improve for inclusive growth by providing skill to the Minority communities who do not posses any, to allow them to gain employment.

Rs. 45 crore each have been provided for i) Scheme for promotion of education in 100 Minority Concentration towns/cities; and ii) Village Development Programme for 1,000 villages not covered under Minority Concentration Blocks/ Minority Concentration Districts.

The Ministry of Minority Affairs also gets Rs. 19.70 crore as Non-Plan provision so that the total finances available with the Ministry for the FY 2012-13 is Rs. 3,154.70 crore.

Courtesy: pib.nic.in