In the Union Budget 2024, the allocation for the Ministry of Minority Affairs has been set at just Rs. 3,183.24 crore, which constitutes approximately 0.0660% of the total budget.
This represents a decrease from previous years. In 2021-22, the budget for the Ministry was Rs. 4,810.77 crore, rising to Rs. 5,020.50 crore in 2022-23. Last year’s budget for the Ministry was Rs. 3,097.60 crore.
Mujahid Nafees, convener of the Minority Coordination Committee (MCC), has expressed disappointment with the reduced allocation for the Ministry of Minority Affairs in the 2024-25 budget.
The budget cuts include a Rs. 106.84 crore reduction in the Pre-Matric Scholarship Scheme, while the Post-Matric Scheme has received an increase of Rs. 80.38 crore. Additionally, funding for the Merit-cum-Means Scheme has been reduced by Rs. 10.2 crore, the Maulana Azad Fellowship Scheme by Rs. 50.92 crore, the Coaching Scheme by Rs. 40 crore, and the Interest Subsidy by Rs. 5.70 crore.
Significantly, there is no provision for the UPSC Preparation Scheme. The Qaumi Waqf Board Taraqqiyati Scheme has been cut by Rs. 1 crore. Other schemes, including the Skill Development Initiative Scheme, Nayi Manzil Scheme, Minority Women Leadership Development Scheme, Ustad Scheme, and Hamari Dharohar Scheme, have no allocated funds.
Moreover, the PM Virasat Ka Samvardhan Scheme has seen a reduction of Rs. 40 crore, and there is no provision for the Central Share in the National Minority Finance and Development Corporation. The Educational Scheme for Minorities and Madrasas has been reduced by Rs. 8 crore, the budget for the National Minority Commission by Rs. 1 crore, and funding for linguistic minorities by Rs. 1 crore. There is also no provision for the Maulana Azad Foundation.
Nafees criticized the budget, stating, “This reflects a discriminatory stance against the minority community. The government appears to be hindering the progress of India’s minority communities. The Minority Coordination Committee considers this budget discriminatory and demands a special provision of at least Rs. 1 lakh crore to uplift the backward community, in line with their population.”