The Government has implemented various schemes for the welfare and upliftment of every strata, including minorities, specially the economically weaker and lesser privileged sections of the society, through various schemes of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Ministry of Textiles, Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Women and Child Development and Ministry of Rural Development. Ministry of Minority Affairs specifically implements various schemes across the country for socio-economic and educational empowerment of the six (6) centrally notified minority communities.

The Ministry of Minority Affairs launched a Central Sector Scheme (CSS) namely Nai Manzil on 8^thAugust 2015 with 50% funding from the World Bank, to benefit the minority youth who do not have formal school leaving certificate, i.e., those in the category of school–dropouts or educated in community education institutions like Madarasas. The scheme provided a combination of formal education (Class VIII or X) and skills and enabled the beneficiaries seek better employment and livelihoods. Out of the total target of 1,00,000, the Ministry allocated 99,980 beneficiaries, out of which 98,712 beneficiaries have been trained, involving a total expenditure of Rs. 456.19 crores so far. State wise/gender wise details of beneficiaries along with funds released to Project Implementing Agencies (PIAs) are available at the website of the Ministry, i.e., www.minorityaffairs.gov.in.

This information was given by the Union Minister of Minority Affairs, Smt. Smriti Zubin Irani, in a written reply in Lok Sabha.

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SS/RKM